Torch Commando

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The Torch Commando was a South African organisation of World War II veterans, founded in 1951. The commando was founded in protest against the South African government's plan to remove coloureds from the voters roll in the Cape. Harry Schwarz, a well known MP was one of the founders. The commando's main activities were torchlight marches, from which they took their name.

The Torch Commando existed for more than five years, and at its height had 250,000 members, including RAF ace Adolph "Sailor" Malan. The government was alarmed by the number of judges, public servants and military officers joining the organisation, and a new law was passed to ban anyone in public service or the military from joining.