The Group 27 Headquarters was inaugurated at Eshowe on 14th April 1978, with the Tugela and Umkhombe Commandos under its command, and formed part of the Natal Command. The base was originally a British garrison fort and prison for the captured POW's during the Zulu rebellion of 1899. By 1989 the Insele Commando, Pongola Commando, as well as Jozini Training Base were also placed under its command. It was responsible for area protection, border protection, and operations in conjunction with the SAPS, and covered the area eastwards to the sea, from the Ingwavuma district in the north down south to the Tugela river. In 1993 the Group 11 Headquarters at Dundee was amalgamated with the Group 27 Headquarters at Eshowe.