State Presidents Guard
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The State President's Guard () was the name of the ceremonial unit of the South African Defence Force (SADF) from 1967 to 1990. During that time, it was the guard unit for the South African
State President The State President of the Republic of South Africa () was the head of state of South Africa from 1961 to 1994. The office was established when the country became a republic on 31 May 1961, outside the Commonwealth of Nations, and Queen Eli ...
and guard of honour at ceremonial occasions. Renamed the State President's Unit () in 1985, it was disbanded in July 1990.


History

The origins of the State President's Guard (later the State President's Unit) trace back to the State Artillery Corps () of the erstwhile , influenced, too, by British and other European traditions. On the occasion of the fifth anniversary on 31 May 1966 of the creation of the Republic of South Africa, a plea was made to the then Minister of Defence and the Commandant-General of the Defence Force for the creation of a ceremonial unit within the South African Defence Force (SADF), to add lustre to the office of the State President. The intention was that a unit with its own ceremonial uniform would act as the ceremonial guard of the State President and would perform ceremonial duties at all official state occasions. As the first State President of the Republic of South Africa,
Charles Robberts Swart Charles Robberts Swart (5 December 1894 – 16 July 1982), nicknamed "Blackie", was a South African politician who served as the last governor-general of the Union of South Africa from 1959 to 1961 and the first state president of the Repub ...
, was due to retire on 31 May 1967, and his successor, Dr T. E. Donges, was to be sworn in on the same day, it was agreed that the newly-inaugurated guard would appear in public on the same day, at Donges’ inauguration. The new unit was established officially on 1 May 1967 and an effort was made to train the specially-selected servicemen who would form the guard of honour at Donges' inauguration. Special uniforms were manufactured - including a plumed shako with the presidential emblem (the national coat of arms with the letters 'SP' above). The initial uniform evolved from historical Boer Republic designs, with variations reflecting military traditions and practical needs. However, due to Dr Donges' illness, the Guard was only able to make its first public appearance eight months later at his state funeral. Including the state funerals of the first State President, Swart (in 1982), and that of the State President-elect, Donges, in 1968, the State President's Guard served all the States President of the Republic of South Africa from 1967 until 1990. On 1 December 1985, State President
P. W. Botha Pieter Willem Botha, ( , ; 12 January 1916 – 31 October 2006) was a South African politician who served as the last Prime Minister of South Africa from 1978 to 1984 and as the first executive State President of South Africa from 1984 until ...
changed the name of the unit to the 'State President's Unit' (). On 30 January 1986, the ceremonial uniform was changed to a more modern, Kalahari sand tunic, off-white shirt, khaki tie, orange-white-blue belt, khaki trousers (that included an orange-white-blue vertical stripe), and a white, spiked pith helmet. The unit was disbanded in July 1990. In 1996, the National Ceremonial Guard (NCG) of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was formed, to add lustre to ceremonial occasions of the now democratic South Africa. However, the NCG is a separate entity to the SP Unit.


Function

The most important ceremonial function of the State President's Guard (later the State President's Unit) was that of guard of honour at ceremonial occasions. Appearances of the SP Guard / Unit in this capacity from 1967-1990 included the following: * The inauguration ceremonies of
State Presidents of South Africa State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...
from J. J. Fouche in 1968 until F. W. de Klerk in 1989. * Visits from foreign heads of state, as well as other eminent foreign visitors. * Performances at the state funerals of States President and at certain other military funerals. * Annual Opening of Parliament Parade. Notably, Alpha Company of the State President's Unit provided the ceremonial guard at the Opening of Parliament Parade in Cape Town on 2 February 1990. Minutes later, President F. W. de Klerk announced significant reforms, including the unbanning of the African National Congress (ANC) and other anti-apartheid organisations, and the release of political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela. Regular performances by the SP Guard / Unit also took place at occasions when foreign ambassadors presented their credentials to the State President. Other appearances were when the then-homelands gained 'independence'. In addition, the State President's Guard / Unit also performed at the official arrival and departure of the State President from various cities, especially those cities in which his official residences were situated. The SP Guard / Unit was also responsible for a weekly changing of the guard parade on Fridays at
Tuynhuys De Tuynhuys () is the office of the president of South Africa, located in Cape Town. The building The building has in various guises been associated with the seat of the highest political authority in the land for almost two and a half cen ...
in
Cape Town Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...
while the
Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
was in session. At the end of each month, a retreat ceremony was held by the unit at a public venue. Similar parades were held at Cape Town Castle, Grand Parade in Cape Town and at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. In addition to acting as a ceremonial guard for the State President during official events such as inaugurations, state funerals and parliamentary openings, the SP Guard / Unit also provided operational support as an infantry unit, including border defense and internal security operations. The unit was tasked to do operational duty in the same way as any other infantry unit of the SADF, and in the 1980s it participated in operation 'Smokeshell' and the follow-up operation after the attack on Katima Mulilo. Shortly before the unit's deactivation in July 1990, its members were deployed in early 1990 to the then Eastern Transvaal, along the SA/Mozambique/Swaziland border and in the townships of the then homeland of Kangwane. Members of the SP Guard / Unit were selected based on strict criteria, including physical attributes, physical fitness, bilingualism, minimum academic requirements, and a clean record. Training included basic infantry skills, advanced weapon handling and urban warfare tactics, ensuring soldiers of the Guard / Unit were combat-ready.


Headquarters

Upon its establishment on 1 May 1967, the State President's Guard was not yet an independent unit - it was to begin with attached to the Army Gymnasium in Voortrekkerhoogte, on the outskirts of Pretoria. When the Army Gymnasium moved to Heidelberg, the SP Guard was reassigned to the SA Medical Service Training Centre. Early in 1969, the unit moved to Wonderboom, in Pretoria, where it was attached to the 4th Provost Company. In September 1971, it moved to Heidelberg, and was reassigned again under the wings of the Army Gymnasium. On 10 December 1973, the SP Guard returned to Voortrekkerhoogte, where it remained until its deactivation in July 1990.


Commanding Officers and RSMs

The commanding officers of the State President's Guard / Unit were - * Cmdt J. C. Swarts (1967—1971) * Cmdt S. J. P. K. Steenkamp (1971—1973) * Maj C. J. Louwrens (1973—1977) * Maj F. A. Boles (1977—1980) * Maj J. H. Nawn (1980—1981) * Maj H. G. de Witt (1982—1984) * Maj P. J. de Witt (1985—1986) * Cmdt J. F. Weilbach (1986) * Cmdt C. V. Geldenhuys (1987-1989) * Cmdt J. Pretorius (1989-1990) The Regimental Sergeants-major (RSMs) were - * WO2 C. J. Buitendach (1967—1969) * WO1 D. J. Oosthuizen (1969—1976) * WO2 J. M. Brand (1976—1980) * WO2 J. D. Steyn (1980) * WO2 W. P. Wiese (1980—1981) * WO1 R. J. L. B. Ras (1982—1983) * WO1 W. P. Wiese (1984—1986) * WO1 P. R. Schutte (1987-1990)


Deactivation and Legacy

The State President's Unit was deactivated on 26 July 1990, amid political changes in South Africa. Its legacy includes contributions to military tradition and the ceremonial representation of the presidency, with a strong emphasis on discipline and honour. The unit's history reflects the broader context of South Africa's military and political evolution during a tumultuous period.


Symbols


Colours

On 28 April 1988, history was made by the State President's Unit (as it by then was), when it became the first unit in the SADF to be awarded national colours together with unit colours, in a
Presentation of Colours The Presentation of Colours is a military ceremony that marks an anniversary or significant event in the history of a particular regiment or similar military unit. This involves the presentation of a new version of the Military colours, stan ...
ceremony. 'National colours' () serve the same purpose as King's colours in the
British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...
as well as 'presidential colours' in
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
and other
Commonwealth republic The republics in the Commonwealth of Nations are the sovereign states in the organisation with a republican form of government. , 36 out of the 56 member states were republics. While Charles III is the titular Head of the Commonwealth, the King ...
s.


Uniform


Insignia


See also

*
State President of South Africa The State President of the Republic of South Africa () was the head of state of South Africa from 1961 to 1994. The office was established when the country 1960 South African republic referendum, became a republic on 31 May 1961, outside the ...
*
South African Army The South African Army is the principal Army, 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 Servi ...
*
Guard of honour A guard of honour (Commonwealth English), honor guard (American English) or ceremonial guard, is a group of people, typically drawn from the military, appointed to perform ceremonial duties – for example, to receive or guard a head of state ...
* National Ceremonial Guard * Bands of the South African National Defence Force


Notes


References

{{SA Army Units Disbanded military units and formations in Pretoria Military units and formations of South Africa in the Border War South African ceremonial units Guards regiments State presidents of South Africa