| 5 South African Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|
 5 SAI emblem | |
| Active | 1 January 1962 to present |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Branch |  South African Army |
| Type | Motorised infantry |
| Part of | South African Army Infantry Formation |
| Garrison/HQ | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal |
| Motto(s) | Avante! |
| Equipment | Mamba APC |
| Engagements | South African Border War |
| Insignia | |
| Company level insignia |  |
| SA Motorised Infantry beret bar circa 1992 |  |
5 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.
5 SAI was established on 1 January 1962, at Ladysmith, Natal Province. [1] The battalion became operational on 1 April 1962. [1]
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 table 4 level were allowed to compete. A 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi) run had to be done under ten minutes 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.
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.
Land to the east of Ladysmith was allocated by the Department of Defence in 1990[ when? ] as the Boschhoek Training Area.
In 2004, 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]
SANDF's Motorised Infantry is transported mostly by SAMIL Trucks, Mamba APC's or other un-protected motor vehicles. SAMIL 20, SAMIL 50 and SAMIL 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.
| 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 N.M. Zama | 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 |
The South African Army is the principal land warfare force of South Africa, a part of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), along with the South African Air Force, South African Navy and South African Military Health Service. The Army is commanded by the Chief of the Army, who is subordinate to the Chief of the SANDF.
The South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF) was an auxiliary arm of the South African Defence Force (SADF) and comprised the armed forces of South West Africa from 1977 to 1989. It emerged as a product of South Africa's political control of the territory which was granted to the former as a League of Nations mandate following World War I.
The South African Army Infantry Formation supervises all infantry within the South African Army.
61 Mechanised Battalion Group was a unit of the South African Infantry Corps; although it was classed as mechanized infantry, it was a combined arms force consisting of infantry, armour and artillery.
The General Botha Regiment is a reserve infantry regiment of the South African Army. The Regiment was named after General Louis Botha, the first prime minister of South Africa.
The General de la Rey Regiment is an reserve infantry regiment of the South African Army.
1 South African Infantry Battalion is a mechanized infantry unit of the South African Army.
The Mapungubwe Regiment is a reserve infantry regiment of the South African Army. It traces its history as far back as 1939, and fought in the Second World War, and the Border War after 1966. It was renamed in August 2019.
2 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.
4 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.
7 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.
6 South African Infantry Battalion is an air assault infantry unit of the South African Army.
8 South African Infantry Battalion is a mechanized infantry unit of the South African Army. The battalion is equipped with Ratel Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) used for fast transport and combat mobility across rough ground. Support weapons for mechanized infantry are also provided with motorized transport, or are built directly into these IFVs, in order to keep pace with the IFVs in combat. The battalion was raised at Upington in the Northern Cape on 01 October 1973 as part of the South African Infantry Corps, and since the change in structure, has been assigned to the Infantry Formation.
The King Shaka Regiment is a reserve motorised infantry battalion of the South African Army.
15 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.
121 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.
10 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.
14 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.
62 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group was a unit of the South African Army (SADF); although it was classed as mechanized infantry, it was a combined arms force consisting of a Mechanised Infantry Battalion forming the core of the group, Main Battle Tank Squadron, Armoured Car Squadron, Air-defence Battery, Engineer Squadron, Artillery Battery, specialists i.e. EW, MAOT, etc. and all the supporting staff and functions required for such a force.
Umzimvubu Regiment is the first South African Army Reserve unit created after the 1994 elections.
