111 Battalion

111 Battalion was a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.

111 Battalion
111 Battalion emblem
Active	1980–1994
Country	South Africa
Branch	South African Army
Type	Motorised infantry
Part of	South African Army Infantry Corps
Garrison/HQ	New Amsterdam
Motto(s)	Luec Doctrinae Light of Knowledge
Equipment	Buffel APC, Samil 20
Insignia
Company level insignia
SA Motorised Infantry beret bar circa 1992	SA Motorised Infantry beret bar

History

Origin of the black battalions

By the late 1970s the South African government had abandoned its opposition to arming black soldiers.

In early 1979, the government also approved a plan to form a number of regional African battalions, each with a particular ethnic identity, which would either serve in their respective homelands or under regional SADF commands.

Location of the 100 Battalions in relation to their respective homelands

The Swazi Battalion

This policy led to the formation of 111 Battalion for Swazis. 111 Battalion was raised in 1980 at Amsterdam, Mpumalanga on the Swaziland Border in the then Eastern Transvaal where a purpose built base was developed for it.

Troops for 111 SA Battalion were recruited from the self-governing territory of KaNgwane, where the SADF itself maintained a base.

Higher Command

111 Battalion resorted under the command of Eastern Transvaal Command based in Nelspruit.

Operational Deployment

The battalion was responsible for patrolling the border between Swaziland and South Africa.

Disbandment

111 Battalion was disbanded around 1999.

Insignia

The badge was designed to represent the head ring and plumes of the Swazi King upon crossed assegais.

SADF era 111 Battalion insignia

Notes

Peled, A. A question of Loyalty Military Manpower Policy in Multiethinic States, Cornell University Press, 1998, ISBN 0-8014-3239-1 Chapter 2: South Africa: From Exclusion to Inclusion