[2]: 65  Solomon Plaatje of the South African Native National Congress would assist in the recruitment process during late 1917.

[2]: 69  Prominent South African politician John X. Merriman opposed the recruitment, fearing what would happen to society on the return of these men after introducing them to European social conditions.

[2]: 73  During December 1916, the British government formed the Directorate of Labour to manage all the labour units from Commonwealth nations and begun to break the battalions into smaller units which begun to break down the South African government's strict control over them with some ending up close to the front lines.

[2]: 71  By April 1917, the South Africans had managed to withdraw the men from the front to the northern French towns of Le Havre, Rouen, Dieppe, Rouxesnil, Saigneville and Dannes.

[2]: 74  After the sinking of the transport ship SS Mendi with loss of over 600 members of SANLC, the House of Assembly passed a motion of sympathy to the relatives of the dead.

[2]: 61  In January 1917 the South African government had hoped the scheme would raise the numbers in the SANLC to 50,000 as there was still labour shortages on the front but it was not to be and by May 1918, all men were home.

Prior to departure the men were sent to a camp near Devonport where they were roundly cheered by the local inhabitants as 'gallant forces of the Empire'.

[3] The excellent service by the men of the SANLC was also acknowledged by Douglas Haig, Commander in Chief of the British Army, who expressed his appreciation for their contributions.

[4] Thirteen black servicemen were killed by their officers and NCOs when they mutinied over the imprisonment of a colleague, though this incident was suppressed by the South African government.