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43 South African Brigade

43 SA Brigade is to be combat ready to group and deploy on operations when so ordered. To provide combat-ready land forces for the pursuance of national defence and the prevention of war, failing which, to jointly and preferably multi nationally, swiftly and decisively achieve national security goals and collaboratively promoting peace and stability internally and externally in concurrence with international obligations to contribute to the development and upliftment of South Africa, its people and the African continent. It provides a combat ready Brigade Headquarters for the employment by Chief of the SA National Defence Force as required.

Established 02 April 1997 at Wallmannsthal, Gauteng, the name was changed 01 April 1999 from 43 Mechanised Brigade to 46 South African Brigade.

• Establishment - 2 April 1997
• Location - Wallmannsthal, Gauteng,
• Name Changed - 1 April 1999, 43 Mechanised Brigade changed to 46 South African Brigade
• The Emblem Green / Black background: Mechanised Infantry Fist
• The Iron Fist of the SA Army symbolising decisive action
• Sword: Exercising of Command
• Flash: Rapid Deployment Force (Swift Action)
• Motto: Combat Power

Formerly known as 43 Mechanised Headquarters, the 43 SA Brigade celebrated its 15th birthday after successfully conducting various course support and force preparation exercises. The event took place at the 43 SA Brigade HQ at Walmansthal on 30 March 2012 to mark the brigade’s achievement. The history of the brigade dates back to the late 1990’s when the 43 Mechanised Brigade HQ provided the Headquarters of the Combined SADC Task Force and commanded the intervention stage of Ops BOLEAS in the Kingdom of Lesotho in September 1998.

The year 2009 was also one of the highlights in the Southern SADC region when 43 SA Brigade provided the Military Component Force HQ for the SADC Standby Force during Exercise GOLFINHO. It still has this responsibility as well as that of providing the headquarters of the Chief of The SANDF Rapid Force. “The birth process of 43 SA Brigade HQ was a long and painful event. It developed out of the virtual rapid deployment force established in 1990 at the then Army Combat School.” These were the words of the General Officer Commanding, Brig Gen Lawrence Smith when he addressed guest and members on parade during the 43 SA Brigade 15th celebrations.

“It was later designated as 43 Mechanised Brigade HQ under the command of Col Izan Leibrandt, also at the Army Combat School. The HQ was formally established as a tactical brigade HQ on 2 April 1997 at Wallmansthall,” He said.

The Force Employment Strategy of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) dictated that the SANDF’s reaction capability be tested every 4 years. An exercise of this nature was held in 2006 but due to the hosting of the FIFA Soccer World Cup 2010 by South Africa, this objective was shifted to 2011. The exercise, code name NDLOVU, commenced on 20 October 2011 when the first elements started with tactical road movement to the two (2) mayor assembly area’s in Potchefstroom and Bloemfontein respectively. Military convoys will converge on these two centers from 36 different units based all over South Africa.

The public was advised that during the period 1 to 11 February 2011 there would be increased presence of military vehicles and troops on National Roads as the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members participating in Exercise Young Eagle were making their way to the mobilisation centre to prepare for the exercise. The first convoy departed from Pretoria on Sunday 30 January 2011, comprising of force support elements of 43 South African Brigade Head Quarters Unit and the Brigade Administrative Area. The second convoys departed from different SANDF bases on 1 February 2011.

The SANDF conducted this joint annual force preparation exercise in order to integrate the respective combined Arms of Service of the SANDF, namely, the South African Army, South African Air Force and the South African Military Health Service, to be held at the SA Army Combat Training Centre over the period 12-24 February 2011. The aim of the exercise is to a demonstration of South Africa’s commitment to participation in regional peace support training and hopes to achieve improved regional co-operation in the field of Peace Support Operations.

The exercise was executed by three operational structures nl. 43 SA Brigade, 46 SA Brigade and a Joint Maritime Task Group whilst under the watchful eye of an Exercise Joint Task Force Head Quarters, situated in Kimberley in the Northern Cape. The exercise focused on the theatre level and be executed at the campaign level, while allowing the achievement of objectives and participation of Services and Divisions in a joint manner. The exercise waas designed to execute and practice various aspects of strategic, operational, tactical and technical military actions within the campaign with the main emphasis on command and control procedures. These aspects of operations are to be exercised to enhance the joint operational preparedness of the SANDF.

The landward focus of this exercise was in the Northern Cape with smaller Maritime elements and Special Forces operating in the St Helena Bay area in the Western Cape. The exercise will be scenario driven with the strategic objective to establish the capacity to stabilize a failed state by means of an early intervention by a mission trained South African Force. The exercise culminated in a final show down of participating forces on the 17 November 2011 at the SA Army Combat Training Centre in Lohatlha, Northern Cape. Convoy movement back to home units concluded on 22 November 2011.

43 SA Brigade began the extensive training at Entabeni near Thohoyandou in Limpopo on 22 February 2021 and continue up till 22 March 2021. This was in fulfilment of the given directives on mission readiness training or employment, says Captain Ntsoaki Emily Ramolula, Acting Staff Officer 2 for the brigade. The jungle and urban warfare training will ensure that the quick reaction force (QRF) is properly prepared for continental deployment as part of MONUSCO’s Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The South African National Defence Force was tasked to provide fighting forces for the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) and Quick Reaction Force (QRF), as part of the UN’s stabilisation mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo and MONUSCO.

To keep the QRF combat-ready before it is handed over to the Chief of South African National Defence Force (Chief of Joint Operation) for Mission Readiness Training and or Employment, the Jungle Warfare Training is a necessary to achieving the mandate in the MONUSCO Mission Area. To achieve the training objectives, the Exercise Director, Colonel S.T. Hloka worked in tandem with the SA Army Infantry Formation, other Services and Divisions, the motorised infantry Company–Quick Reaction Force training will apply essential capabilities ranging from Vehicle and Foot Patrols (urban and rural), Jungle Warfare Orientation, Platoon Offensive Battle Drills, Fighting in a built-up area, Jungle Warfare Standard Operating Procedures,bRiver Crossing, Navigation using GPS, Shooting, Field Craft, Advanced UAV Training, Mass Evacuation/Casualty, and Base Protection.

Several branches of the SANDF partnered for the integrated jungle warfare training with the South African Air Force providing the Quick Reaction Force with Oryx and Augusta A109 Helicopters for Air Support while the South African Military Health Services (SAMHS) provided Medical Support to make the training a success. Elements of the SAMHS gained first-hand knowledge in dealing with injuries in real-life combat scenerio situations.

Over the years, the Headquarters of 43 Brigade has been essential in achieving the South African Army’s mandate, and satisfying its mission statement “to Combat Ready, Command, Control and Support Rapid Deployment Forces when Commissioned”.