In 1969, the Modderfontein Dynamite Factory was placed under the protection of the Republic Defence Force(SADF).[clarification needed][sentence fragment]
Before that era, the factory was protected by a unit of the National Volunteer Battalion (NVB) that was made up of "keymen" and other volunteers.
In 1946 the NVB units were stood down.
The commando was initially formed as an urban commando but was restructured in the early 1980s into an industrial commando tasked with protecting the complex at Modderfontein. Manpower for the commando was largely drawn from men working for AECI who had a military commitment.
The Commando was structured into a headquarter with four companies.
