PSouth Africa Beret badge 117 th Batallion
By 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 serve in their homeland or under regional SADF commands.
Development of the Lebowa Defence Force
Two additional Northern Sotho Battalions were established, the 117 and the 118. Troops for 117 SA Battalion were recruited from the self-governing territory of Lebowa.
Higher Command
117 Battalion resorted under the command of Group 14 from Potgietersrus.
