Long Tom Commando

Long Tom 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

This commando was founded in the mid eighties in Graskop covering areas on the escarpment and Buschbuckridge. The units mascot was a Long Tom gun from the Anglo Boer War

Operations

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 rural police.
The unit resorted under the command of the SADF's Group 33.

With the SANDF

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.