Ciskei Defence Force

The Ciskei Defence Force was the military of Ciskei, a bantustan controlled by the apartheid regime of South Africa. It was established in March 1981 from the 141 Battalion of the South African Defence Force and functioned as part of the 21 Battalion based near Lenasia, outside Johannesburg. In 1993 its total troop count was 2,000. Its headquarters were first at Jong'umsobomvu outside King William's Town and in 1993 moved to the Parliament Buildings in Bhisho. It was organized into One Ciskei Battalion of about 900 men at Bhisho, Two Ciskei Battalion of about 700 men at Keiskammahoek, an Air Wing at Bisho Airport, and an auxiliary. It was equipped for counter-insurgency operations, using R4 and R5 assault rifles, mortars and Mamba mine-protected vehicles. It was disbanded in April 1994.