6 South African Infantry Battalion

6 South African Infantry Battalion is an air assault infantry unit of the South African Army.

6 South African Infantry Battalion
6 SAI emblem
Active	1 January 1962
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Republic of South Africa Republic of South Africa
Branch	South African Army  South African Army
Type	Air assault infantry
Size	Battalion
Part of	South African Army Infantry Formation
Garrison/HQ	Grahamstown, Eastern Cape
Motto(s)	Aliis Melius
Engagements	South African Border War Part of South African Army Operations Operation Protea Operation Daisy Peacekeeping Part of United Nations Force Intervention Brigade Commanders Lt Col Altin John Gysman Operations Kibati Triple Towers Niyabiyondo
Commanders
Current commander	Lt Col Altin John Gysman
Insignia
Company level insignia
SA Motorised Infantry beret bar circa 1992	SA Motorised Infantry beret bar

History

6 SAI was established on 1 January 1962, at Grahamstown, Eastern Cape.^[1] The new training unit was housed on the property previously used by 44 Air School established by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

Bush War/ Namibia

The battalion became operational in 1970.^[1] 6 SAI took part in Operation Protea and Operation Daisy in Angola.^[1]

SADF 6 SAI Commemorative letter

1984 Grahamstown riots

The Unit was involved in quelling the 1984 Grahamstown riots.^[2] The army had been called in to assist the South African Police who had failed to contain the situation.

Air Assault Infantry

The battalion has since become an air assault infantry unit specifically trained to deploy via helicopters.^[1]

The battalion was deployed in April 2013 to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade. ^{[3][4][5][6][7][8]}

Battle for Kibati

In 2013, 850 members of 6 SAI were part of the United Nations (UN) Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) authorised to use lethal force to achieve peace in the DRC. 6 SAIs involvement in the FIB saw the defeat of the M23 rebel group during the Battle of Kibati and other skirmishes. The first elements moved into the DRC on 28 April 2013 and the rest following from 15 June, with all 850 South African troops ready for action by 18 June.^[9][10]

Special Forces elements such as snipers were also attached to 6 SAI. When the FIB came under mortar fire, 6 SAI established an observation post at the triple towers site and engaged enemy targets up to 1400 meters. ^[11]

Freedom of Grahamstown

On 28 August 2014, after their return from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the battalion was honoured with a Freedom of the City parade through Grahamstown.^[12]

Leadership

6 SA Infantry Battalion Leadership

From	Commanding Officers - 6 SAI BN	To
21 January 1962	Cmdt S.J. Terblanche	31 July 1963
1 August 1963	Cmdt M.N. Horner	19 December 1963
20 December 1963	Cmdt H.N. Norton	18 September 1966
19 September 1966	Cmdt F.A. Patten	30 November 1967
1 December 1967	Cmdt C.J. Lloyd	1 November 1968
2 November 1968	Cmdt H.F.P. Riekert	29 September 1972
30 September 1972	Cmdt E.J.J. Nel	11 January 1976
12 January 1976	Cmdt G.C.MG. Fourie	19 April 1979
20 April 1979	Cmdt M.J. Grobler	31 December 1981
1 January 1982	Cmdt F. Oelschig	18 October 1984
From	Commanding Officers - 6 SAI Training Unit	To
18 October 1984	Cmdt F. Oelschig	28 February 1986
1 March 1986	Cmdt P. J. Stroebel	31 December 1990
From	Commanding Officers - 6 SAI BN	To
1 January 1991	Cmdt G. P. Nel	20 December 1991
21 December 1991	Cmdt H. D. Du Plessis	17 December 1993
18 December 1993	Lt Col J. Du Buisson	8 December 1995
9 December 1995	Lt Col E. R. Rabie	7 July 1999
8 July 1999	Lt Col A. P. J. Du Preez	31 January 2008
31 August 2008	Lt Col M.S. Gopane	18 March 2010
18 March 2010	Lt Col S.S. Ntsunguzi	23 February 2012
23 February 2012	Lt Col Altin J. Gysman	29 January 2019
29 January 2015	Col V.D. Maseko	22 February 2017
22 February 2017	Lt Col M.A. Saki	2017
2017	Lt Col Yandisa Gaxenia	Present
From	Regimental Sergeants Major - 6 SAI BN	To
8 January 1962	WO1 P. J. Grove	31 December 1963
1 January 1964	WO1 F. P. Smit	31 December 1964
1 January 1969	WO1 D.J. Maritz	16 June 1964
17 June 1974	WO1 J. J. Gous	31 December 1979
1 January 1980	WO1 D. J. Oosthuizen	31 December 1981
1 January 1982	WO1 J. M. Goodrich	18 October 1984
From	Regimental Sergeants Major - 6 SAI Training Unit	To
18 October 1984	WO1 J.M. Goodrich	31 December 1987
1 January 1988	WO1 W. van Onselen	31 December 1990
From	Regimental Sergeants Major - 6 SAI BN	To
1 January 1991	WO1 J.F.E. Van Zyl	1993
1993	WO1 W.R. Botha	1998
1999	WO1 C.C. Richardson	2008
10 October 2008	MWO C. H. "Cassie" Coetzee	Present

Insignia

Previous Dress Insignia

SADF era 6 SAI insignia

Current Dress Insignia

SANDF era Infantry Formation insignia

Air Assault
(Qualification)

Black on Thatch beige, Embossed Small Helicopter with wings

Gallery

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