5 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.
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 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.
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[when?] as the Boschhoek Training Area.
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 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
Notes
References
^ abc"Fact file: 5 SA Infantry Battalion". defenceWeb. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
^"SA Army Infantry Formation". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
^"5 South African Infantry Battalion Deploys to DRC". African Defence. African Defence. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
South Africa
South African Army
South Africa portal
