Brakpan Commando

Brakpan 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.

Origin
This unit was established in 1922 during the Rand Revolt as a rebel commando under "General" R.B. Waterston to help the striking miners.

Rebel Commando
During the revolt, this commando massacred 8 opposing mine officials and special constables. The leader at that time, John Garsworthy was sentenced to death but this was later commuted.

With the UDF
The commando that had started as a communist rebel movement was eventually incorporated as a normal commando of the Union Defence Force.

With the SADF
During the SADF period, this unit resorted under Group 16 in Marievale. During this era, the unit was mainly engaged in area force protection, search and cordons as well as other assistance to the local police.

As an urban unit, this commando was also tasked with protecting strategic facilities as well as quelling township riots especially during the State of Emergency in the 1980s.

Disbandment
This unit, along with all other Commando units was disbanded after a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki 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.