115 Battalion

115 South African Infantry Battalion was a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.

Origin of the black battalions
In the late 1970s the South African government had abandoned its opposition to arming black soldiers.

By early 1979, the government approved a plan to form a number of regional African battalions, each with a particular ethnic identity, which would either serve in their homelands or under regional SADF commands. This led to the formation of 115 Battalion for the Ndebele and the planned KwaNdebele homeland in 1984.

Development of the KwaNdebele Defence Force
115 Battalion was raised in 1985 and initially based on the farm named Shenandoah near Siyabuswa (The intended capital of KwaNdebele), part of the then Eastern Transvaal. Troops for 115 SA Battalion were recruited from the self-governing territory of KwaNdebele. The Battalion was intended to form the beginning of an armed forces for this homeland, but weak local support for independence from South Africa eventually halted the idea.

115 redesignated as a SAI
115 Battalion therefore remained a SADF unit and resorted under the command of Group 15 from Pretoria.

Disbandment
115 SAI Battalion was disbanded around 1997 and some members were assimilated into the new SANDF.

Insignia
115 Battalion's badge was initially designed for its role in the KwaNdebele Defence Force. The axes and otter are symbols of the Ndebele people. The redesigned 115 SAI Battalion badge however removed any direct connotation to the Ndebele tribe and was opened up as a multi-ethnic unit while the South African Infantry colours was introduced.