5 SAI was established at Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal on January 1, 1962, becoming operational on April 1, 1962. The next year, the unit provided assistance to the Michael Caine movie “Zulu” and in 1968 they assisted moviemakers in filming “Amajuba”. In 1975 the unit partook in Operation Savannah and in the early 1980s helped establish a base at Eenhana in northern Namibia, then a South African-administrated area.
Current role: Motorised infantry.
Current base: Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal
Battle honours
Motto: Avante! (Forward!).
