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History of the South African Special Forces
The origins of South African Special Forces are to be found in the accumulation and germination of certain ideas and insights during 1969 in the minds of the senior echelons of the SADF.
The conception of a South African Special Forces unit can be traced to meetings held at GHQ in Pretoria and with the members of the Supreme Command in Cape Town during the latter months of 1969.
The first Special Forces grouping in the SADF was initiated under various cover names as a sub structure of the School of Infantry in Oudtshoorn. The initial purpose of this group was to give specialized infantry training and to evaluate the operational capability of the SA Army. This later evolved into doing specialized operational tasks for the SADF.
Initially this group operated under the administrative command of Infantry School, but as Chief Army troops they later came under the direct command of Southern Cape Command. At this stage they went under the name of the "Special Research Section".
This fledgling grouping consisted of eleven members under the command of Cmdt Jan Dirk Breytenbach. These men formed the first nucleus and become the founder members of the South African Special Forces. Inevitably they became known as the "Dirty Dozen.
THE FOUNDING YEARS 1972 – 1975
On 1 October 1972 the first official Special Forces Unit is the SADF was formally established at Oudtshoorn. The name, 1 Reconnaissance Commando, was also initially chosen as a cover name, so as not to give a clear indication of the unit’s purpose.
On the 1 Jan 1972 Capt. J Breytenbach was awarded the VAN RIEBEECK DECORATION (VRD) for bravery in operations. Three of the group members received the VAN RIEBEECK MEDAL (VRM) that is given to non-commissioned officers for bravery.
The unit immediately started with the recruitment, selection and training of personnel out of the SADF. A training area, Fort Doppies, - in the Eastern Caprivi was acquired during the latter part of 1972. The name Doppies came from a verve monkey with an unstoppably desire to chow spent cartage. This area was used as a training area and operational jump-off point until the Independence of Namibia in 1990.
A Special Forces HQ element began functioning in Pretoria during 1972. This later revolved into the Special Forces Headquarters established in Pretoria to co-ordinate all Special Forces activities.
It was decision to move the unit to the Bluff Military Area in Durban. On the 1st of January 1975 the unit was relocated to Durban, with self-accounting status.
On the 1st of June 1974, 2 Reconnaissance Commando was officially instituted as a Citizen Force unit. The creation of this unit was heavily motivated by the need to retain the unique skills and expertise developed by the Permanent Force Reconnaissance Commando after the terms of service of its members had expired.
Lt. F Zeelie become the first South African soldier and reconnaissance member to be killed in action on the border, on the 23 of June 1974. He was awarded the Louw Wepener Decoration, Posthumous, for his heroic deeds on that day.
Members of 1 RC were drown to assist Cmdt Breytenbach, who was ordered to shape up the FNLA just before Operation Savannah. These instructors were coincidentally also called the "Dirty dozen" like the first group of Special Forces mentioned earlier.The group of FNLA soldiers were formed into Bravo Group of Task Force Zulu and later became the legendary 32 Battalion. Special Forces can therefor rightfully lay claim to the parenthood of 32 Battalion.
In December 1975, 2RC, then 16 strong, became the very first Citizen Force unit to be committed to active operational duties in Angola.
Honoris Crux’s where awarded to the following members during this Operation: -
During 1977 another two new units, the Reconnaissance Commando Base Unit, and the Reconnaissance Commando School were established.
During 1977, it was decided to form more Operation Special Forces units and in 1978 1 RC was divided into three Commandos, namely 1 RC, the land/air Commando, 4RC the seaborne unit and 5 RC the Pseudo unit.
Seven members of the Special Forces were killed or died as the result of their wounds on the 29 October 1977. They were: -
Lt L.C.Greyling (2RC), WO1 F.C.Van Zyl, Sgt M.L. (Vingers) Kruger, Sgt W.C.Marx, Cpl A Bandenhorst L/Cpl G.W.T. (Barry) Walker and Cpl. Neville Clark.
On the 28th of October 1977 the following members were awarded medals for their deeds on that day, Capt. C.A.J Meerholz the Honoris Crux silver, SSgt M Viljoen and Sgt C. P. Greyling the Honoris Crux.
4 RC was relocated to Langebaan on the West Coast.
Cpl G. M. Christie and Cpl J.J.Potgieter of 4 RC were awarded the Honoris Crux in September 1979.
5 RC was moved to Duku-Duku in Zululand during 1979 and in 1981 moved to a base on the farm Schiettocht, outside Phalaborwa. While still under construction 120 Ex-Selous Scouts arrived in April 1980 from Rhodesia and the inactive 3 Reconnaissance Commando was activated to accommodate them.
The Honoris Crux was awarded to Sgt. Johan ‘Roes’ Terblanche on the 25 June 1980. Gabriel Fernando was awarded the Honoris Crux Gold for his deeds in five separate occasions over the period 8 August 1980 to 31 January 1981. Only five SADF members were awarded the Gold ever and Gabriel is the only Special Forces member to achieve this.
For their deeds Jack Greeff, Sam Fourie, Frans Fourie and Kloppies Kloppers was recommended for the Honoris Crux during January 1981.
Operational developments and successes on a scale unknown before marked this decade. High-risk missions of a strategic nature demanded specialization and professionalism. Following an in-depth research project during 1979 and 1980, Special Forces was transformed into an independent formation on the 1st of January 1981.
In 1981 1,2,4 and 5 Reconnaissance Commandos became Regiments.
The award of twelve Honoris Crux medals, the most ever to a single group or unit was made in August 1987 to 4 RR members. They were
WO1 Pep van Zyl became the first Sergeant Major of Special Forces in 1988. As Special Forces were under the direct command of Chief of the Defence Force, WO1 van Zyl slotted in with the Arms of Service Sergeant Majors. He was the only Sergeant Major of Special Forces to serve in this capacity, wearing a black background rank badge with a small Compass Rose as the Arms of Service designation. He served in this capacity until 31 March 1992 when Special Forces were relegated from Chief of Defence Force Troops to Chief of Army troops.
South Africa went through major political change in 1993/1994. This also had its influence on Special Forces. Following the founding of the SA National Defence Force, the old Reconnaissance Regiments were disbanded and a new Special Force organisation was formed on 1 October 1993.
The changes that took place were: -
- Directorate Reconnaissance Regiments became 45 Parachute Brigade.
- 1 Reconnaissance Regiment changed to 452 Parachute Battalion.
- 4 Reconnaissance Regiment changed to 453 Parachute Battalion.
- 5 Reconnaissance Regiment changed to 451 Parachute Battalion
- The Reconnaissance Regiments Logistical Depot amalgamated with 1 Maintenance Unit and acquired the latter name. The aim of the unit remained the support of the Special Forces units.
At the end of 1996 it was decided to rationalise again and to close 1 Special Forces Regiment. The unit officially closed on the 31st of March 1997 and the members where transferred to the other regiments. The museum that was at the unit was moved to Phalaborwa and the opening of the Special Forces museum took place on the 13th of April 1997. On the same day the Colours of 1 Reconnaissance Regiment was laid down.
The following members distinguished themselves and were awarded decorations and medals as indicated.
Names/RANK AT TIME UNIT MEDAL DATE OF REVERSE
VAN RIEBECK DECORATION/MEDAL
LOUW WEPENER DECORATION
HONORIS CRUX GOLD
HONORIS CRUX SILVER
HONORIS CRUX (FIRST ISSUE)
HONORIS CRUX