113 Battalion

113 Battalion
113 Battalion emblem
Active	1980–1994
Country	South Africa
Branch	South African Army
Type	Motorised infantry
Part of	South African Army Infantry Corps
Garrison/HQ	Phalaborwa
Motto(s)	Servamus We Serve
Equipment	Buffel APC, Samil 20
Insignia
Company level insignia
SA Motorised Infantry beret bar circa 1992	SA Motorised Infantry beret bar

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

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 approved a plan to form a number of regional African battalions, each with a particular ethnic identity, which would serve in their homeland or under regional SADF commands.

Location of the 100 Battalions in relation to their respective homelands

Development of the Gazankulu Defence Force

This led to the formation of 113 Battalion for the Tsongas tribe. It is believed that the original intention was for this battalion to form the basis of a future Gazankulu Defence Force.

113 Battalion was raised in 1980 at Phalaborwa in the then Eastern Transvaal. Troops for 113 SA Battalion were recruited from the self-governing territory of Gazankulu.

Higher Command

113 Battalion resorted under the command of Group 13. 64 soldiers from 113 Battalion was transferred to 116 Battalion when that unit was expanded.

SADF Group 13 emblem

Disbandment

113 Battalion was later absorbed into 7 South African Infantry Battalion to form a single battalion in the new SANDF.

Insignia

113 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