Difference between revisions of "South Africa - Gazankulu"
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(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...") |
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| − | + | 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. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 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 was reincorporated into South Africa on 27 April 1994, merging with the old province of Natal to become the new KwaZulu-Natal province. | ||
== Gazankulu Camouflage == | == Gazankulu Camouflage == | ||
| − | * When formed in | + | * 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]] | [[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 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]] | [[File:gazankulu2.jpg|200px]] | ||
[[File:gazankulu3.jpg|200px]] | [[File:gazankulu3.jpg|200px]] | ||
| − | * As South Africa moved towards a new era in early 1990s, a last contract of | + | * 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]] | [[File:gazankulu4.jpg|200px]] | ||
| + | * 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:kangwane1.jpg|200px]] | ||
| + | [[File:kangwane2.jpg|200px]] | ||
| + | <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> | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
| − | <references> | + | <references/> |
Latest revision as of 18:58, 6 May 2026
Gazankulu
Gazankulu was a tribal homeland in the northeastern region of Republic of South Africa from 1971 until 1994.[1] The region was set aside for Tsonga-speaking people (Shangaan), out of part of the old province of Transvaal.
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 was reincorporated into South Africa on 27 April 1994, merging with the old province of Natal to become the new KwaZulu-Natal province.
Gazankulu Camouflage
- When formed in 1980, the camouflage uniforms issued to members of the Gazankulu Defence Force may have been surplus stocks of 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Although for years this very distinctive "giraffe" camouflage pattern was believed to have been worn by 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 African Parachute Battalions (Parabats).
Notes
- ↑ 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.