VENDA Defence Force - 1 Venda Battalion arm flash

A Venda National Force was established at the time of independence in 1979 which initially combined policing, prisons and defence functions. Venda Defence Force was formally established separately from the National Force on 27 September 1982 when 112 Battalion Madimbo (which fell outside the Venda territory) was disbanded within the SADF and re-established in the form of One Venda Battalion at Manenu. At that stage the battalion consisted of three companies and was essentially a light infantry battalion.