The Bats Advisory Panel
A distinguished airborne career
Colonel J.H. “Skillie” van der Walt began his Permanent Force career in January 1977, completing his basic and Junior Leader training before joining 7 SAI at Bourke’s Luck and later moving with the unit to Phalaborwa.
Selected for officer training in 1979, he completed his B Mil BA degree at the Military Academy and qualified as a paratrooper in July 1982. He transferred to 1 Parachute Battalion later that year, serving as 2IC Delta Company before commanding Charlie Company from 1984 to 1987.
He went on to hold a number of senior appointments, including SO1 Operations at Northern Command, SO1 Logistics and Chief of Staff at 44 Parachute Brigade, and OC 151 SAI Battalion. Promoted to Colonel in 1996, he was appointed OC 44 Parachute Brigade, before serving as SSO Operations at OFS Command.
Skillie left the SA Army on 31 March 1999 and subsequently established his own business in Bloemfontein, where he remains active. His distinguished career reflects a lifetime of service and leadership within the South African Army and airborne fraternity.
A true Parabat of the highest order
Combat Parachute Engineer with an unbroken 47 years of continuous Reserve Force service to the South African Engineer Corps and the airborne brotherhood.
Earning his wings in 1979, Lt Col van Heerden rose to command the 44 Parachute Engineer Regiment for 14 years (1991–2005). For more than two decades he has served at SA Special Forces Brigade Headquarters as Senior Staff Officer (Reserve Forces), remaining a dedicated pillar of the airborne community to this day.
A Professional Consulting Civil & Structural Engineer by civilian profession, he has seamlessly combined elite military leadership with specialist engineering expertise. His service includes operational deployments during the Border War and extensive international parachute training and competitions, where he earned foreign parachute wings from multiple nations and led teams to top honours in major military skills competitions.
Decorated with the Pro Patria Medal, Southern Africa Medal, John Chard Decoration, long-service awards and numerous unit commendations for exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication.
Lt Col van Heerden stands as a living embodiment of the Parabat spirit: United we are strong
Strategic Intelligence Leader & Former Military Officer
Moses "Ramos" Ranaka is the SADC Region Operations Manager at the Strategic Insights and Research Centre (SIRC), a leading Financial Institution. He directs strategic intelligence gathering and compliance analysis, specializing in financial crime prevention, counter-terrorism financing, and fraud risk mitigation.
With over two decades of service in the South African National Defence Force, culminating as Officer Commanding of 121 Infantry Battalion, Ramos brings extensive expertise in tactical planning, operational leadership, and intelligence operations. His military career also included serving as Personal Assistant to the Chief of the South African Army, where he coordinated secure movements and high-level security operations.
Ramos qualified as a paratrooper in 2007 and as a support boat coxswain, enhancing his operational versatility in both airborne and maritime environments.
He holds a Degree in Security and Africa Studies from the University of Stellenbosch and has completed advanced training in close protection, cyber security, criminal intelligence analysis, and tactical emergency casualty care. His international certifications include recognition by the International Anti-Terrorism Professional Association (IATPA) and the United Kingdom Highfield International Award in Close Protection Operations.
Renowned for his strategic insight, decisive leadership under pressure, and effective cross-sector collaboration, Ramos applies his military-honed skills to strengthen financial compliance and risk management across the SADC region.
50 Years of Service and Expertise
Major (Ret.) Hansie Human dedicated an extraordinary 50 years to the South African airborne community, retiring from 3 Parachute Battalion in August 2013.
He qualified as a paratrooper in 1964 and went on to become a highly skilled specialist in explosives and bomb disposal. His qualifications included Dispatcher, Explosive Ordnance Demolition, Improvised Explosive Device Demolition, Special Forces Diving and Underwater Device Demolition. He served as Officer Commanding Dispatchers at 3 Para Bn and remained actively involved with the unit until his retirement.
Hansie's specialist expertise was also highly regarded internationally. During his 27 years with the CSIR, he worked as an Explosives Technologist and trained members of Special Forces, SA Navy Divers, the SAP Task Force and UNITA in the specialised use of explosives. In 1996, the Head of the Israeli Army, Moshe Levy, spent three months with Hansie learning bomb-clearance techniques.
Away from explosives, Hansie was a talented draughtsman and designer. In the early 1970s, while working for National Roads, he designed the familiar “RIDE SAFE” sign, which became well known to generations of soldiers. He also designed Fort Ikapa.
Hansie was a founder member of LAARSA and played an important role in establishing the Paratroopers Association in Pretoria. His remarkable career, specialist knowledge and lifelong commitment to the airborne fraternity have made him a highly respected figure in South African military history.
Dedicated to South Africa’s Airborne Future Generation
Major Keobakile Enoch Moleti ‘kingJojo” joined the Para Family in July 1996 and qualified as a Paratrooper in the same year to join the esperit de core of 1 Parachute Battalion. Since becoming an officer in 2002 his passion to excel in the airborne fraternity took him between and operations and formal training where he qualified quite a number of static line jumpers, dispatchers, instructors and drop zone safety officers.
Through his endeavors he managed to amalgamate the cargo drop zone with the personnel drop zone learning Programme which is currently presented at the Parachute School. Through his qualifications as the Training Manager, Occupational Education Training Developer he designed quite a number of formal courses in the Hanger and he is also the founder of the Airborne Recce Platoon that was rebirthed under the auspices of 1 Parachute Battalion.
Moving from Formal Training he successfully established a functional Combat Readiness, Control Centre of 44 Parachute Regiment before taking the reins of the Second in Command of 1 Parachute Battalion.In 2018 he started to team up with Mr Raymond Kramer to restore the glory within the airborne fraternity and the Aapkas was the main objective. They fought together side by side until it was finally restored on the 26th of April 2026 as one of the historic days for the Para Bats family.
Soldier, Strategist and Paratrooper
Major (Ret.) Mynhardt Marais matriculated from Hugenote Hoërskool, Wellington, in 1979 and was called up to the SA Army School of Engineers in Kroonstad, qualifying as a combat engineer. In 1981, he joined 2 Field Engineer Regiment and volunteered for the Basic Parachute Course at 1 Parachute Battalion before deploying to Sector 10 in northern Namibia.
During his deployment, Mynhardt led national service Sappers in mine-clearing operations and contributed to innovative anti-mine ambush and offensive mine-hunting techniques. He also participated in Operation Protea.
From 1982 to 1989, he studied at the University of Stellenbosch, completing a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies while continuing his Citizen Force service. In 1990, he joined the Faculty of Military Science at the Military Academy as a researcher before moving into the private sector, where he worked in corporate strategy and later established a consultancy specialising in the wine industry.
Mynhardt also excelled in canoeing, representing South Africa as a Springbok canoeist. He won the Berg River and Breede River Canoe Marathons, earned seven gold medals, completed 32 marathons, and was named University of Stellenbosch Sportsman of the Year in 1986.
He subsequently served as Company Commander of C Company, 3 Parachute Battalion Reserve Force, at Fort Ikapa. A notable highlight of his military career was completing more than 100 parachute jumps alongside members of 4 Special Forces at Langebaan.
His remarkable career combines military service, airborne operations, strategic studies, academia, business and elite sport, while maintaining a strong and lasting connection to the South African paratrooper fraternity.
A Life of Service, Adventure and Conservation
Mr. Derek Prout-Jones completed his parachute course with A Company, 1 Parachute Battalion, in 1981. A trained falconer, he was later seconded to the South African Air Force at AFB Waterkloof, where he flew falcons to prevent bird strikes involving military aircraft.
He served for ten years in the Citizen Force as a Platoon Sergeant with B Company, 3 Parachute Battalion, and was Treasurer of the South African Paratrooper Association during the 1980s.
A qualified Chartered Accountant, Derek enjoyed a successful career at Rand Merchant Bank, progressing from dealmaker to Chief Financial Officer and Chief Investment Officer. Since leaving the corporate world in 2010, he has run a private investment company specialising in private equity and venture capital.
Derek remains an avid military enthusiast, with an extensive collection of airborne and Special Forces books and memorabilia. He qualified as a civilian freefall parachutist in his mid-50s.
His lifelong passion for wildlife and conservation began with eagle research projects in the Kruger National Park while at university and continued decades later when he assisted with doctoral research on eagles. His life reflects a unique combination of military service, adventure, business, conservation and an enduring passion for the airborne fraternity.