The South African Army [Afr: Suid-Afrikaanse Leër] was only formally founded as part of the UDF by the Defence Act of 1912, although its history dates back to around 1658, when the Dutch East India Company required a small force to provide security in the Cape. A commando system was set in place by 1715 with the local commandos actively participating in the Frontier Wars and the Anglo Boer War. Formalised as an army for the Union of South Africa, it served throughout WW1, the Witwatersrand rebellion, WW2, up to the formation of the SADF in 1961. Adapting to the growing and ever-changing situation, it grew into the most formidable army in Africa by the late 1980s. It was reincorporated into the new South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in 1994.