Pipe bands also play an important role in South African military music, with notable pipe bands coming from the Cape Town Highlanders, Transvaal Scottish Regiment and the South African Military Health Service.

[1] The main responsibility for military bands in the SANDF is to provide musical support to the South African Army, as well as indirectly foster high morale and pride.

The bands of the SANDF provide musical accompaniment for official ceremonies such as the Armed Forces Day parade and the swearing-in of the President of South Africa.

Army Bandsman are required to wear the No 1 Dress Uniform, which is also worn by the National Ceremonial Guard (NCG).

It originated in 1915 as the regimental band of the 1st Battalion, The Cape Corps, a famous fighting unit of World War I.

When the Cape Corps was re-activated at the start of the Second World War, the band returned to full-time service in the regiment.

In 2000 the SANDF initiated a music-training program at the band's headquarters in Cape Town, to assist young recruits of the Military Skills Development System and various African countries such as Namibia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Congo and Botswana in training military musicians.

The band has also received much praise for their involvement in the first Opening of Parliament and the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela in 1994.

The Director of Music of the band is Major Dawie Fourie, one of the Correctional Services founder members.

[8] During the course of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Pipe-Major (S/Sgt)Andrew Imrie of the Cape Field Artillery Pipes and Drums played Nightfall in Camp from the Leerdam Bastion.

The band is based at the Castle of Good Hope and is now under the leadership of Pipe-Major Grant Scheffel and Warrant Officer Class 2 Andrew Imrie who is the Bandmaster.

The Drums and Pipes have since the death of the Queen Mother in 2002, the band performed regularly at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (2002, 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2012).

It was formed a few months after the Regiment itself was established and its first performance was in 1856, during which the Governor of the Cape Colony, Sir George Grey, inspected them.

[11] Its history began in 1927 with the arrival of brothers Angus and Hamish Scott came to Kimberley in 1926 to work for what is now known as Tech Cominco.

The following year, the brothers, along with a small group of pipers and drummers, established the Kimberley Pipe Band.

Since the band's inception, it has performed at major national events, most notably the unveiling of the new coat of arms of South Africa by Thabo Mbeki in Bloemfontein.

These groups include: Classical music pianists, light music pianists, piano ensemble, trumpet ensemble, saxophone quartet, Brass Quintet, woodwind quintet, jazz trio, clarinet soloist, dance band, and a big band.