SADF’s 31 Battallion is disbanded

Date: 7 Mar 1993
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

The South African Defence Force's (SADF) 31st Battalion was disbanded at a public ceremony in the Cape Province. This Battalion was composed primarily of the San (Bushmen) battalion who had been deployed in South African townships and who fought in the war in Namibia. President F. W. de Klerk announced that it would be disbanded as part of the efforts to end violence in South Africa, as they were allegedly involved in vigilante activities across the country. The Battalion allegedly dispersed trained killers. The 1,000 soldiers were to be transferred to other units in the Northern Cape and would help patrol the Namibian border. The 31st Bushman Battalion was relocated, along with 32 Battalion, in South Africa.

Search events by date

What happened on your birthday?

How we know this

01SAHO, Frederik Willem de Klerk, from South African History Online, [online], Available at www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed: 1 March 2013]
02SADF, UNITS, from South African Defence Force, [online], Available at sadf.info [Accessed: 05 February 2014]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). SADF’s 31 Battallion is disbanded. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013082

South African History Online (2011) 'SADF’s 31 Battallion is disbanded', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013082 (Accessed: 24 August 2026).

South African History Online, SADF’s 31 Battallion is disbanded [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013082, (accessed 24 August 2026).

"SADF’s 31 Battallion is disbanded." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013082. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "SADF’s 31 Battallion is disbanded." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013082.