| Vereeniging Commando | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | c. 1921–2006 |
| Disbanded | 29 September 2006 |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Allegiance |
|
| Branch | |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light Infantry |
| Size | One Battalion |
| Part of | South African Infantry Corps Army Territorial Reserve, Group 17 |
| Garrison/HQ | Vereeniging |
| Motto(s) | ENSE ET ARATRO Serving in War and Peace (Afrikaans:Dien in Oorlog en Vrede) |
Vereeniging Commando was alight infantryregiment of theSouth African Army. It formed part of theSouth African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.
The Vereeniging Commando was formed in 1921 as a Shooting Commando and its first Commander was Lt Col Karel Rood.
The Shooting Commando received its official status as a Commando in 1957 and in 1961 received its first Citizen Force members.
During this era, the unit was mainly used for area force protection, search and cordones as well as stock theft control assistance to the rural police.
The Commando received the Freedom of Entry to the city ofVereeniging on 14 February 1976.
On 16 August 1991, the commanding officer Cmdt J.C. Kruger, accepted the award of National Colours on behalf of the unit.
This unit, along with all otherCommando units was disbanded after a decision by South African PresidentThabo Mbeki to disband all Commando Units.[1][2] The Commando system was phased out between 2003 and 2008 "because of the role it played in the apartheid era", according to theMinister of Safety and SecurityCharles Nqakula.[3]
On Friday 29 September 2006 Vereeniging Commando finally closed its doors when Lt Col J.C. Zelie handed theVMB keys over to the Department of Public Works.
| From | Honorary Colonels | To |
| 1991 | Col (Dr) M. Milani | 2006 |
| From | Commanding Officers | To |
| 1921 | Lt Col K. Rood | 1929 |
| 1929 | Lt Col E. Rood | 1939 |
| 1939 | Lt Col E.S. Rood | 1946 |
| 1946 | Cmdt J.J. Marais | 1948 |
| August 1949 | Cmdt F.H.V. Lamont | November 1949 |
| 1950 | Cmdt G. de Bruyn-Nel | 1967 |
| 1967 | Cmdt F.P. van Niekerk | 1977 |
| 1977 | Cmdt W.A. de Klerk | 1981 |
| 1981 | Cmdt J.P. Arnold | 1985 |
| 1985 | Cmdt T.C. Pieterse | 1989 |
| 1989 | Cmdt J.C. Kruger | 1994 |
| 1994 | Cmdt B.M. Steyn | 1997 |
| 1997 | Lt Col J.C. Zelie | 2006 |
| From | Regimental Sergeants Major | To |
| 1967 | WO1 D.B. Oliver | 1976 |
| 1977 | WO1 W.A. Bobbert | 1982 |
| 1982 | WO1 M.L. van Stratten | 1989 |
| 1989 | WO1 P.F. Strachan | 1991 |
| 1991 | WO1 E. Jonker | 1994 |
| 1994 | WO1 D.J. Labuschagne | 2006 |
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