South Africa - Gazankulu - Revision history

Admin1: /* Gazankulu Camouflage */

2026-05-06T23:58:47Z

Gazankulu Camouflage

Admin1: /* Gazankulu Camouflage */

2026-05-06T23:57:46Z

Gazankulu Camouflage

Admin1: /* Gazankulu Camouflage */

2026-05-06T23:52:47Z

Gazankulu Camouflage

Admin1: /* Gazankulu Camouflage */

2026-05-06T23:50:55Z

Gazankulu Camouflage

Admin1: /* Notes */

2020-09-15T00:32:17Z

Notes

Admin1 at 00:08, 27 September 2018

2018-09-27T00:08:42Z

Admin1 at 17:36, 5 September 2015

2015-09-05T17:36:55Z

Admin1 at 17:03, 28 March 2011

2011-03-28T17:03:36Z

Admin1 at 03:34, 2 February 2011

2011-02-02T03:34:59Z

Admin1: Created page with "http://camopedia.org/image/flag/south%20africa%20-Gazankulu.gif Gazankulu was a tribal homeland in the northeastern region of Republic of South Africa from 1971..."

2011-02-02T03:25:41Z

Created page with "http://camopedia.org/image/flag/south%20africa%20-Gazankulu.gif Gazankulu was a tribal homeland in the northeastern region of Republic of South Africa from 1971..."

New page

http://camopedia.org/image/flag/south%20africa%20-Gazankulu.gif

Gazankulu was a tribal homeland in the northeastern region of [[South Africa|Republic of South Africa]] from 1971 until 1994.<ref> The African Homeland, or ''bantustan,'' was a territory specifically set aside for black Africans of a specific ethnic or tribal group during the apartheid era.</ref> The region was set aside for Tsonga-speaking people (Shangaan), out of part of the old province of Transvaal. KwaZulu was reincorporated into South Africa on 27 April 1994, merging with the old province of Natal to become the new KwaZulu-Natal province.

Although Gazankulu never organized a full-fledged Defense Force as did many of the other homelands, a Police Force organized in 1982 was fully-equipped for domestic law enforcement and counter-insurgency operations.

== Gazankulu Camouflage ==

* When formed in 1982, the camouflage uniforms issued to members of the Gazankulu Police Force were in fact surplus stocks of [[Portugal|Portuguese]] m63 vertical [[lizard]] pattern that had either been warehoused for use by the SADF or possibly obtained from the Portuguese government itself.

[[File:gazankulu1.jpg|200px]]

* In time, the stocks of already used uniforms began to dry up and a first attempt at reproducing the "red lizard" pattern was charged to one or more South African textile firms. The result was the two designs seen below, identical (and based on the original Portuguese drawings) but for the fact that one incorporates green stripes printed over reddish-brown, and the other has brown over green.

[[File:gazankulu2.jpg|200px]]
[[File:gazankulu3.jpg|200px]]

* As South Africa moved towards a new era in early 1990s, a last contract of Gazankulu pattern "red lizard" camouflage was produced, this time by the same companies who were producing textiles and uniforms for the SADF and other Homelands. The quality much improved and the colors mildly changed again, it is uncertain whether any full uniforms went into production as most of the suriving pieces in this pattern are hats.

[[File:gazankulu4.jpg|200px]]

== Notes ==

<references>

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 [[File:gazankulu1.jpg|200px]]
-* We also have evidence that an attempt was made at reproducing the Portuguese "red lizard" pattern by one or more South African textile firms, and that uniforms in this pattern were also provided to forces in Gazankulu. The result was the two designs seen below, identical (and based on the original Portuguese drawings) but for the fact that one incorporates green stripes printed over reddish-brown, and the other has brown over green.
+* We also have evidence that an attempt was made at reproducing the Portuguese "red lizard" pattern by one or more South African textile firms, and it is possible that uniforms in this pattern were also provided to forces in Gazankulu. The result was the two designs seen below, identical (and based on the original Portuguese drawings) but for the fact that one incorporates green stripes printed over reddish-brown, and the other has brown over green. Again, although extant samples of these uniforms do exist, we have no photographic evidence confirming their use specifically by Gazankulu forces.
 [[File:gazankulu2.jpg|200px]]

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 == Gazankulu Camouflage ==
-* When formed in 1980, the camouflage uniforms issued to members of the Gazankulu Defence Force may have been surplus stocks of [[Portugal|Portuguese]] m63 vertical [[lizard]] pattern that had either been warehoused for use by the SADF or possibly obtained from the Portuguese government itself. This information comes primarily from anecdotes, as well as identifications given to items obtained from Southern African sources towards the end of the apartheid era. Unfortunately, to date we have no photographs confirming the use of old Portuguese uniforms by the armed forces of Gazankulu.
+* When formed in 1980, the camouflage uniforms issued to members of the Gazankulu Defence Force may have been surplus stocks of [[Portugal|Portuguese]] m63 vertical [[lizard]] pattern that had either been warehoused for use by the SADF or possibly obtained from the Portuguese government itself. This information comes primarily from anecdotes, as well as identifications given to items obtained from Southern African sources towards the end of the apartheid era. Unfortunately, to date we have no photographs confirming the use of old Portuguese uniforms by the armed forces or police forces of Gazankulu.
 [[File:gazankulu1.jpg|200px]]

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 == Gazankulu Camouflage ==
-* Although for years this very distinctive "giraffe" camouflage pattern was believed to have been worn by [[South Africa - Ka Ngwane|Ka Ngwane Police Forces]], researchers eventually produced evidence verifying its use by forces in Gazankulu. Featuring large reddish-brown and grass green spots on a sandy background, the pattern is similar to a trial pattern developed for the [[South Africa|South African Parachute Battalions]] (Parabats).
+* When formed in 1980, the camouflage uniforms issued to members of the Gazankulu Defence Force may have been surplus stocks of [[Portugal|Portuguese]] m63 vertical [[lizard]] pattern that had either been warehoused for use by the SADF or possibly obtained from the Portuguese government itself. This information comes primarily from anecdotes, as well as identifications given to items obtained from Southern African sources towards the end of the apartheid era. Unfortunately, to date we have no photographs confirming the use of old Portuguese uniforms by the armed forces of Gazankulu.
 [[File:gazankulu1.jpg|200px]]
@@ Line 30: / Line 25: @@
 [[File:gazankulu4.jpg|200px]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:32, 15 September 2020
Line 43:		Line 43:
	== Notes ==		== Notes ==

−	<references>	+	<references/>

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[File:camopedia18.jpg]]
-http://camopedia.org/image/flag/south%20africa%20-%20Gazankulu.gif
+http://camopedia.org/image/flag/south%20africa%20-%20gazankulu.gif
 == Gazankulu ==

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 == Gazankulu Camouflage ==
-* When formed in 1980, the camouflage uniforms issued to members of the Gazankulu Defence Force were in fact surplus stocks of [[Portugal|Portuguese]] m63 vertical [[lizard]] pattern that had either been warehoused for use by the SADF or possibly obtained from the Portuguese government itself.
+* Although for years this very distinctive "giraffe" camouflage pattern was believed to have been worn by [[South Africa - Ka Ngwane|Ka Ngwane Police Forces]], researchers eventually produced evidence verifying its use by forces in Gazankulu. Featuring large reddish-brown and grass green spots on a sandy background, the pattern is similar to a trial pattern developed for the [[South Africa|South African Parachute Battalions]] (Parabats).
 [[File:gazankulu1.jpg|200px]]
-* In time, the stocks of already used uniforms began to dry up and a first attempt at reproducing the "red lizard" pattern was charged to one or more South African textile firms. The result was the two designs seen below, identical (and based on the original Portuguese drawings) but for the fact that one incorporates green stripes printed over reddish-brown, and the other has brown over green.
+* We also have evidence that an attempt was made at reproducing the Portuguese "red lizard" pattern by one or more South African textile firms, and that uniforms in this pattern were also provided to forces in Gazankulu. The result was the two designs seen below, identical (and based on the original Portuguese drawings) but for the fact that one incorporates green stripes printed over reddish-brown, and the other has brown over green.
 [[File:gazankulu2.jpg|200px]]
 [[File:gazankulu3.jpg|200px]]
-* As South Africa moved towards a new era in early 1990s, a last contract of Gazankulu pattern "red lizard" camouflage was produced, this time by the same companies who were producing textiles and uniforms for the SADF and other Homelands. The quality much improved and the colors mildly changed again, it is uncertain whether any full uniforms went into production as most of the suriving pieces in this pattern are hats.
+* As South Africa moved towards a new era in early 1990s, a last contract of "red lizard" camouflage was produced, this time by the same companies who were producing textiles and uniforms for the SADF and other Homelands. The quality much improved and the colors mildly changed again, it is uncertain whether any full uniforms went into production as most of the suriving pieces in this pattern are hats.
 [[File:gazankulu4.jpg|200px]]
@@ Line 39: / Line 44: @@
 </script>
 </html>
 == Notes ==
 <references/>

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 == Gazankulu ==
-Gazankulu was a tribal homeland in the northeastern region of [[South Africa|Republic of South Africa]] from 1971 until 1994.<ref> The African Homeland, or ''bantustan,'' was a territory specifically set aside for black Africans of a specific ethnic or tribal group during the apartheid era.</ref> The region was set aside for Tsonga-speaking people (Shangaan), out of part of the old province of Transvaal. KwaZulu was reincorporated into South Africa on 27 April 1994, merging with the old province of Natal to become the new KwaZulu-Natal province.
+Gazankulu was a tribal homeland in the northeastern region of [[South Africa|Republic of South Africa]] from 1971 until 1994.<ref> The African Homeland, or ''bantustan,'' was a territory specifically set aside for black Africans of a specific ethnic or tribal group during the apartheid era.</ref> The region was set aside for Tsonga-speaking people (Shangaan), out of part of the old province of Transvaal.
-Although Gazankulu never organized a full-fledged Defense Force as did many of the other homelands, a Police Force organized in 1982 was fully-equipped for domestic law enforcement and counter-insurgency operations.
+In 1979 when the SADF formulated the idea of creating regional black African battalions, each made up of a particular ethnic identity, the goal was to eventually create independent armed forces for the African Homelands. In 1980, 113 Battalion was raised in Eastern Transvaal from members of the Tsongas tribe to form the basis of a Gazankulu Defense Force. A Gazankulu Police Force was later organized in 1982, and fully-equipped for domestic law enforcement and counter-insurgency operations.
 == Gazankulu Camouflage ==
-* When formed in 1982, the camouflage uniforms issued to members of the Gazankulu Police Force were in fact surplus stocks of [[Portugal|Portuguese]] m63 vertical [[lizard]] pattern that had either been warehoused for use by the SADF or possibly obtained from the Portuguese government itself.
+* When formed in 1980, the camouflage uniforms issued to members of the Gazankulu Defence Force were in fact surplus stocks of [[Portugal|Portuguese]] m63 vertical [[lizard]] pattern that had either been warehoused for use by the SADF or possibly obtained from the Portuguese government itself.
 [[File:gazankulu1.jpg|200px]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:03, 28 March 2011
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+	[[File:camopedia18.jpg]]
		+
	http://camopedia.org/image/flag/south%20africa%20-%20Gazankulu.gif		http://camopedia.org/image/flag/south%20africa%20-%20Gazankulu.gif
		+
		+	== Gazankulu ==

	Gazankulu was a tribal homeland in the northeastern region of [[South Africa\|Republic of South Africa]] from 1971 until 1994.<ref> The African Homeland, or ''bantustan,'' was a territory specifically set aside for black Africans of a specific ethnic or tribal group during the apartheid era.</ref> The region was set aside for Tsonga-speaking people (Shangaan), out of part of the old province of Transvaal. KwaZulu was reincorporated into South Africa on 27 April 1994, merging with the old province of Natal to become the new KwaZulu-Natal province.		Gazankulu was a tribal homeland in the northeastern region of [[South Africa\|Republic of South Africa]] from 1971 until 1994.<ref> The African Homeland, or ''bantustan,'' was a territory specifically set aside for black Africans of a specific ethnic or tribal group during the apartheid era.</ref> The region was set aside for Tsonga-speaking people (Shangaan), out of part of the old province of Transvaal. KwaZulu was reincorporated into South Africa on 27 April 1994, merging with the old province of Natal to become the new KwaZulu-Natal province.
Line 21:		Line 25:


		+	<html><script type="text/javascript"><!--
		+	google_ad_client = "pub-1062728818428100";
		+	/* 728x90, created 3/20/11 */
		+	google_ad_slot = "4975266056";
		+	google_ad_width = 728;
		+	google_ad_height = 90;
		+	//-->
		+	</script>
		+	<script type="text/javascript"
		+	src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
		+	</script>
		+	</html>

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:34, 2 February 2011
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	http://camopedia.org/image/flag/south%20africa%20-~~Gazankulu~~.gif	+	http://camopedia.org/image/flag/south%20africa%20-%20Gazankulu.gif

	Gazankulu was a tribal homeland in the northeastern region of [[South Africa\|Republic of South Africa]] from 1971 until 1994.<ref> The African Homeland, or ''bantustan,'' was a territory specifically set aside for black Africans of a specific ethnic or tribal group during the apartheid era.</ref> The region was set aside for Tsonga-speaking people (Shangaan), out of part of the old province of Transvaal. KwaZulu was reincorporated into South Africa on 27 April 1994, merging with the old province of Natal to become the new KwaZulu-Natal province.		Gazankulu was a tribal homeland in the northeastern region of [[South Africa\|Republic of South Africa]] from 1971 until 1994.<ref> The African Homeland, or ''bantustan,'' was a territory specifically set aside for black Africans of a specific ethnic or tribal group during the apartheid era.</ref> The region was set aside for Tsonga-speaking people (Shangaan), out of part of the old province of Transvaal. KwaZulu was reincorporated into South Africa on 27 April 1994, merging with the old province of Natal to become the new KwaZulu-Natal province.