7 South African Infantry Battalion

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

7 South African Infantry Battalion
7 SAI Emblem
Active	1 October 1973 to present
Country	South Africa
Branch	South African Army
Type	Motorised infantry
Part of	South African Infantry Formation
Garrison/HQ	Phalaborwa, Limpopo
Motto(s)	Tenacuter (Perseverance)
Commanders
First Commanding Officer	Commandant Eddie Webb
Insignia
Company level insignia
SA Motorised Infantry beret bar circa 1992	SA Motorised Infantry beret bar

History

Origin

1973: 7 SAI was established on 1 October, at Bourke's Luck, Eastern Transvaal (Mpumalanga) by Commandant Eddie Webb.[1] 1974:The first national servicemen began training in 1974.[1]

1980: 7 SAI is relocated to Phalaborwa.[1]

Angola Bush War Deployment

1983: The July intake's training phase was shortened to accommodate a need to deploy a company for Operation Askari and Sector 10. This company would deploy with 101 Battalion in a reaction force role.

1984: a Company was stationed at Rundu for reaction force duties under the command of 202 Battalion for 6 months, whereafter they were posted to Nepara for a further 6-month deployment. After a period of leave they were posted back to Nepara for a third time, spending their 40 celebration on the 17/30 cutline in a fox camp (BF). Members of this company eventually joined the 905/6 reaction force duties. Bravo company was also involved in operations to capture SWAPO radio operators using two modified Ratel's fitted with radio direction-finding equipment named Pointer and Spotter.

1987: August intake of 7 SAI's Alpha Company, was deployed to the operational area of Cuito Cuanavale, Angola in 1988 under the command of a Captain G.P. Butler. Alpha Company consisted of five infantry platoons as well as an 81 mm (3.2 in) mortar platoon and was deployed to the eastern side of the Cuito river (a tributary of the Okavango River) for a period of 1 month. During its time of deployment, various platoons were allocated as mechanised infantry (in Ratels) while the remainder formed a base camp sending out roving patrols in the area.[2]

After a month of deployment in Angola, the peace accords were signed and Alpha Company returned to a base camp in Rundu, South West Africa.

South West Africa / Namibia

1989: during the UNTAG deployment in South West Africa/Namibia, Alpha Company provided base defence for the town of Oshakati with some of its platoons participating in the various counter insurgency operations against the PLAN infiltration that occurred during this time.[2]

Post Apartheid

7 SAI changed from a training unit to a rear area protection unit when 113 Battalion became part of the unit.

113 Battalion which was merged with 7 SAI

1994: 7 SAI became part of the Rapid Deployment Force during November.

Lesotho intervention

1998: 7 SAI took part in Operation Boleas in Lesotho to restore order after an army coup.[1]

Burundi

2002: 7 SAI took part in the UN/AU peace mission, Operation Fibre to restore stability in Burundi.[1]

Under the Infantry Formation

2002: 7 SAI was placed under the command of the South African Army Infantry Formation as a motorised infantry unit.[3]

The 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

The unit's emblem is a rooikat superimposed on a Maltese cross, which is in memory of two gold crosses commissioned by the ZAR President TF Burgers and presented to two Bourkes Luck ladies for their help in caring for and nursing wounded Boer commandos during the Sekhukhune War.

Previous dress insignia

SADF era 7 SAI insignia

Current dress insignia

SANDF era Infantry Formation insignia

Leadership

Leadership

From	Honorary Colonel	To
From	Commanding Officer	To
October 1973	Cmdt Eddie Webb[lower-alpha 1]	December 1974
January 1975	Cmdt J. van Niekerk[lower-alpha 2]	May 1977
June 1977	Cmdt J.F. Gouws[lower-alpha 2]	December 1978
January 1979	Cmdt H.J. Schultz[lower-alpha 2]	December 1981
January 1982	Cmdt W. Swanepoel[lower-alpha 2]	January 1988
January 1988	Cmdt J.E. Rabe[lower-alpha 2]	April 1988
May 1988	Cmdt J.M.P. Wessels	6 August 2020
6 August 2020	Cmdt Werner Sott	6 August 2020
1994	Lt Col Daan Van Der Merwe	1997
6 August 2020	Lt Col Barnard	6 August 2020
6 August 2020	Lt Col Tjaart Van Der Walt	6 August 2020
2005	Lt Col Mabotja	6 August 2020
2009	Lt Col Khathutshelo Nethononda	6 August 2020
2013	Lt Col Andrew Matlaila	6 August 2020
2017	Lt Col Tilsetso Sekgobela	6 August 2020
From	Regimental Sergeants Major	To
October 1973	WO1 V. Coleman	December 1974
January 1975	WO1 A.J. Hattingh	December 1977
January 1978	WO1 J.H. Mileham	December 1979
January 1980	WO1 J.F. Somers PMM	December 1982
January 1983	WO1 J.H. Steenekamp HC PMM	November 1986
December 1986	WO1 J.J. Pretorius	July 1988
August 1988	WO1 J.J. Quintin Lategan MMM	6 August 2020
6 August 2020	WO1 James Blom	6 August 2020
1 January 1994	WO1 Dirk Prins	January 1999
6 August 2020	WO1 Chinainai	6 August 2020
6 August 2020	WO1 Jr Raath	6 August 2020

Notes

1. Later Brigadier General
2. Later Colonel

References

1. "Fact file: 7 SA Infantry Battalion". defenceWeb. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
2. Griffiths, P.B. Corporal PB Griffiths, 83344937, Alpha Company Mortar Platoon, Aug 1987 intake. unpublished interview.
3. SA Soldier, January 2003, p.37