The SA Nationwide Defence Drive (SANDF) has confirmed that names of three of the 4 Army Reserve Drive items that comprise the phrases “Cape” or “Cape City” have been formally modified.
That is in keeping with the SANDF’s renaming course of to take away colonial and different seemingly offensive names and symbols from the part-time element of the South African Army.
The next Army Reserve Drive items have formally modified their names:
- Cape City Rifles (The Dukes) to Chief Langalibalele Rifles
- Cape Subject Artillery to Nelson Mandela Artillery Regiment
- Cape Garrison Artillery to Autshumato Anti-Plane Regiment
Brigadier Basic Andries Mahapa (Director Defence Company Communication) instructed defenceWeb that “the publication of a DoD Bulletin confirming the ultimate identify adjustments remains to be to be printed, because the above names had been promulgated by the Ministry of Defence and Navy Veterans in February 2022.”
The SANDF acknowledged in 2019 that the change of names for 52 Reserve Drive items was as a result of “navy traditions in SA Army Reserve items mirror solely these from the South African Defence Drive (SADF) and its predecessor, the Union Defence Drive (UDF). The navy traditions and historical past of indigenous African navy formations and liberation armies concerned within the freedom battle have but to be mirrored in SA Army Reserve items.”
Thus, “the purpose of the identify overview course of (is) to deal with this omission in a balanced and revolutionary means,” with a reputation overview steering committee established to handle the identify change course of.
Quickly after the brand new names had been introduced in October 2019, then Cape City Mayor Dan Plato identified in a letter to then SA Army Chief, Lieutenant Basic Lindile Yam, that retaining “Cape City” and “Cape” in Reserve Drive regiment names is critical to make sure the manufacturers live on.
Plato famous that the Metropolis was not conscious of any method made to the Metropolis of Cape City to touch upon proposed identify adjustments.
“The Metropolis is an stakeholder as a result of there are items inside its boundaries whose staffing is drawn from residents of the Metropolis. Additional the Metropolis has granted Freedom of Entry to various items. We’ve got a duty to make sure the Cape City model continues to be promoted.”
The 4 items referred to are the Cape City Rifles, Cape City Highlanders, Cape Subject Artillery and Cape Garrison Artillery.
“We’re involved the identify adjustments would end result within the lack of the phrases ‘Cape City’ from all items whereas different cities and city proceed to carry the privilege of items which embrace their names,” Plato stated.
The Cape City Highlanders was attributable to be often called Gonnema Regiment, however it seems that this reserve mechanised infantry regiment based in 1885 and based mostly on the Fort Barracks, Cape City, will retain its authentic identify.
Mahapa stated that “Cape City Highlanders has not formally modified its identify and stay often called the Cape City Highlanders.”
A defenceWeb enquiry to the SANDF Directorate: Company Communication (DCC) in January this yr revealed that the three years set down for identify and insignia adjustments for the renamed Army Reserve regiments/items had seen simply two items full the required work.
These items had been the Ihawu and Umkhonto discipline engineer regiments.
Mahapa acknowledged then that items had been anticipated to have “new emblems, unit flags and regimental colors earlier than 31 March 2022”.
