A BRIEF HISTORY
The Rand Light Infantry (RLI) is a motorised Reserve Force infantry regiment headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa and was originally formed on October 1, 1905 as the Transvaal Cycle Corps, with a name change to the Transvaal Cycle And Motor Corps in 1909, before adopting its present name in 1913. The Regiment built an operational record through its service in the Bambata Rebellion (1906), the industrial strike on the Reef (1914), and the Rand Revolt (1922).
During World War I, the unit earned the Battle Honour for South West Africa 1914 – 1915, which it followed with extensive combat in World War II, earning further major Battle Honours across North Africa, including the Western Desert 1941 – 43, Bardia, Gazala, Alamein Defence and El Alamein. In the post-World War II era, RLI maintained active service along the SWA/Angola border and Caprivi Strip during the 1970s and 1980s.
Following the transition to democracy and the formation of the South African National Defence Force, Rand Light Infantry formed part of a composite Reserve Force company under 4 SAI Bn which was projected into UN peacekeeping operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2005. A subsequent external operation included Sudan in 2012 to 2013 and multiple internal operations under OP CORONA along the borderline from 2015 to 2023.
Guided by their motto “Vincit qui patitur” (He conquers who endures), the Regiment was awarded the Freedom of the City of Johannesburg in 1955, won the prestigious Gold Cup multiple times.
The regimental family traditionally celebrates the Regimental Birthday every year on October 1st.
