5 South African Infantry Battalion

5 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.

5 South African Infantry Battalion
5 SAI emblem
Active1 January 1962 to present
Country South Africa
Branch South African Army
TypeMotorised infantry
Part ofSouth African Army Infantry Formation
Garrison/HQLadysmith, KwaZulu-Natal
Motto(s)Avante!
EquipmentMamba APC
EngagementsSouth African Border War
Insignia
Company level insignia
SA Motorised Infantry beret bar circa 1992
SA Motorised Infantry beret bar

History

Based in Ladysmith

5 SAI was established on 1 January 1962, at Ladysmith, Natal Province.[1] The battalion became operational on 1 April 1962.[1]

The Insizwa Proficiency

5 SAI had a very unusual proficiency in the 1970s and 1980s, called the Insizwa, the Zulu word for a strong young man. The criteria required that only sharpshooters on a tabel 4 level were allowed to compete. A 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi) run had to be done under ten mins with battle kit on, followed by 20 kilometres (12 mi) route march also with battle kit. The route march would end at the 200 metres (220 yd) firing line where the competitor would have to shoot 8 shots in the bull. The soldier would also have to successfully complete all other shooting exercises with an 80% success rate.

SADF 5 SAI Insizwa proficiency

Bushwar

5 SAI took part in Operation Savannah during 1975 in Angola,[1] and Operation Protea in 1981 where it deployed companies continuously on rotation to the operational area, taking part in many of the large operations across the border into Angola in the years which followed, right up to the withdrawal of South African forces from Namibia in 1989.

Training Area

Land to the east of Ladysmith was allocated by the Department of Defence in 1990 as the Boschhoek Training Area.

Peacekeeping operations

In 2009, the battalion was one of several South African units who took part as peacekeepers in the United Nations Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC).[2] The battalion was deployed again in May 2014 to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as part of the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade.[3]

SADF 5 SAI Commemorative letter

SANDF's Motorised Infantry

SANDF's Motorised Infantry is transported mostly by Samil trucks, Mamba APC's or other un-protected motor vehicles. Samil 20,50 and 100 trucks transport soldiers, towing guns, and carrying equipment and supplies. Samil trucks are all-wheel drive, in order to have vehicles that function reliably in extremes of weather and terrain. Motorised infantry have an advantage in mobility allowing them to move to critical sectors of the battlefield faster, allowing better response to enemy movements, as well as the ability to outmaneuver the enemy.

Insignia

Previous Dress Insignia
SADF era 5 SAI insignia

Current Dress Insignia
SANDF era Infantry Formation insignia

Leadership
Leadership of 5 South African Infantry Battalion
From Commanding Officers To
1 April 1962 Cmdt M.N. Horner 30 July 1963
1 August 1963 Cmdt H.K.J. Van Noorden SM 28 September 1966
29 September 1966 Cmdt J. Marshall MC 7 August 1968
8 August 1968 Col M.N. Horner 15 September 1968
16 September 1968 Cmdt J.P.F. Botha 24 June 1970
25 June 1970 Cmdt G.P.H. Kruys SM 16 August 1973
17 August 1973 Cmdt L.C. vd B. Heap 31 March 1975
1 April 1975 Cmdt A.J.M. Joubert 1 December 1976
2 December 1976 Cmdt D. C. Benade 30 December 1977
31 December 1977 Cmdt T.J. Van Schalkwyk 2 January 1981
3 January 1981 Cmdt K.V. Harris 31 December 1983
1 January 1984 Col K.V. Harris 31 December 1986
1 January 1987 Col M.S. Smuts 31 December 1989
1 January 1990 Col J.B. Pieterse 31 December 1992
1 January 1993 Col P.M. Smythe MMM 5 May 1995
6 May 1995 Col S.P. Zeeman MMM 4 August 2000
5 August 2000 Lt Col V.E. White 31 December 2004
1 January 2005 Lt Col N.P. Bobelo 31 December 2007
1 January 2008 Lt Col C. Els 23 October 2011
24 October 2011 Lt Col S.T. Hloka c. 2013
c. 2013 Lt Col M. Dyakopu 2014
From Regimental Sgts Major To
1962 WO1 B.R. Kruger 1963
1964 WO1 C. van der Merwe 1964
1965 WO1 A.A. Calmeyer 1968
1968 WO1 N.G. Rust 1969
1969 WO1 P.J.C. Badenhorst 1975
1975 WO1 E.J. Nel 1979
1979 WO1 B.C. Oosthuizen nd

Notes

    References
    1. "Fact file: 5 SA Infantry Battalion". defenceWeb. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
    2. "SA Army Infantry Formation". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
    3. "5 South African Infantry Battalion Deploys to DRC". African Defence. African Defence. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
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