The Reaction Unit originated in the South African Police (SAP) during 1979. It was created out of the regional Riot Units which was the units preceding the Division: Internal Stability, and was created throughout the Republic of South Africa, to address the political instability at the time.Before 1979 the only police unit who had the capability of addressing high risk operations which involved, but was not limited to Urban terrorism, was the Special Task Force (STF).