7 South African Infantry Battalion  7 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.  1973: 7 SAI was established on 1 October, at Bourke's Luck, Eastern Transvaal (Mpumalanga) by Commandant Eddie Webb.  1974:The first national servicemen began training in 1974.  1980: 7 SAI is relocated to Phalaborwa.  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 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. 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.  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.  7 SAI changed from a training unit to a rear area protection unit when 113 Battalion became part of the unit.   1994: 7 SAI became part of the "Rapid Deployment Force" during November.  1998: 7 SAI took part in Operation Boleas in Lesotho to restore order after an army coup.  2002: 7 SAI took part in the UN/AU peace mission, Operation Fibre to restore stability in Burundi.  2002: 7 SAI was placed under the command of the South African Army Infantry Formation as a motorised infantry unit.