Standerton Commando was a

light infantry Light infantry refers to certain types of lightly equipped infantry throughout history. They have a more mobile or fluid function than other types of infantry, such as heavy infantry or line infantry. Historically, light infantry often fought ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

of the

South African Army The South African Army is the principal land warfare force of South Africa, a part of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), along with the South African Air Force, South African Navy and South African Military Health Service. ...

. It formed part of the

South African Army Infantry Formation The South African Army Infantry Formation supervises all infantry within the South African Army. History Origins: Union Defence Force South African Infantry originated as the ''Infantry Branch'' of the Union Defence Forces in 1913. In 1915, ...

as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.

History

Origin

Operations

With the UDF

=The Rand Rebellion Benoni

= Members of the Standerton Commando took part in the crackdown on the 1922 Miners Strike. At 05:00 on 12 March 1922, the

Union Defence Force The Union Defence Force may refer to a former or current military organization: * Union Defence Force (South Africa), the predecessor of the South African Defence Force from 1912 to 1957 * Union Defence Force (UAE) The United Arab Emirates Armed ...

(UDF) attacked Benoni. The objective was to defeat striking commandos at a steel factory and then move into the rest of the town. The Government forces commenced their attack at 11:00 and immediately came under heavy fire. The attack on the steel factory was supported by artillery fire from two positions, which contributed to the striker commandos being dislodged. The attack then continued along Main Reef Road. Commandant. P. Botha and a portion of the Standerton East Commando joined the fight at 16:00. The attack was called off at 17:00 in order to reorganize and consolidate positions before dark. Ammunition and arms arrived later that night and was distributed. The reinforcements consisted of the rest of the Standerton East Commando, the

Blesbokspruit Commando The Blesbokspruit is a river in South Africa that originates north of Daveyton, Gauteng, from where it runs south and then west past the towns of Springs, Nigel and Heidelberg before joining the Suikerbosrand River, a tributary of the Vaal Riv ...

(Standerton), the

Heidelberg Commando Heidelberg Commando was a light infantry regiment of the South African Army. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve. History Origin Heidelberg Commando was formed in 1851 and ...

, the

Hoogveld Commando Hoogveld is a Dutch surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Jacobus Hoogveld (1884–1948), Dutch athlete * Hans Hoogveld (born 1947), Dutch water polo player * Niek Hoogveld (born 1999), Dutch footballer {{Surname Dutch-language su ...

(Heidelberg), the Roodekoppe Commando (Standerton), and the Standerton West Commando. The attack continued on 13 March. The operation went according to plan and the besieged police and Permanent Force were relieved. An instruction was subsequently issued to arrest all male residents of Benoni.

With the SADF

During this era, the unit was mainly used for area force protection, search and cordones as well as stock theft control assistance to the local police.

With the SANDF

=Disbandment

= This unit, along with all other Commando units was disbanded after a decision by South African President

Thabo Mbeki Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki KStJ (; born 18 June 1942) is a South African politician who was the second president of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008, when he resigned at the request of his party, the African National Congress (AN ...

to disband all Commando Units. The Commando system was phased out between 2003 and 2008 "because of the role it played in the apartheid era", according to the Minister of Safety and Security

Charles Nqakula Charles Nqakula (born 13 September 1942) is a South African politician who served as Minister of Defence from September 2008 to 2009. He also served as Minister for Safety and Security from May 2002 to September 2008. Nqakula is married to f ...

Unit Insignia