International flavour spruces up Trans Enduro
Three US national guard officers witnessed the launch of the third leg from Central Beach by Bitou Mayor Dave Swart
PLETTENBERG BAY - The Trans Enduro Challenge, held annually by the SANDF’s Military Academy based in Saldanha, took on an international flavour with observers from the United States national guard forming part of the visiting entourage in Plettenberg Bay on Monday 4 December.
Three US national guard officers witnessed the launch of the third leg from Central Beach by Bitou Mayor Dave Swart, who fired the starter gun for three components of the challenge - two inflatable dinghies, a cycling unit and a group of runners that move from point to point along the route.
The US officers were from the army and medical command of the National Guard, a US reserve force. The Trans Enduro Challenge is a land and sea exercise that started in Gqeberha on 1 December to create awareness and raise funds for the academy’s community outreach programme, Masiza.
This year’s beneficiary in Plettenberg Bay was the Siyakula Day Care Centre where donations of food, a washing line and garden preparation valued between R4 000 and R5 000 was provided.
Nine teams, including land, running, log, signal, media, cycling and sea teams, travel from Gqeberha to Saldanha over 10 days, staying over in towns along the way. While the cycling team covers 100km on bicycles, the sea team travels along the coast with two rubber dinghies and the land team drives with vehicles from town to town raising money, while the log team prepares for the other teams’ arrival.
There is also a running team that covers 10km each h day.
At t certain points nts the teams change.
The entire exercise is planned and executed by the academy students. This develops their leadership skills and enhances their understanding of the practical issues related d to community service. In return, communities es get exposure to the high gh calibre of the young men and women serving in n defence of the country.
It is tradition that the mayor of each town writes a short letter of goodwill to the mayor of the next town. The letter is handed to the exercise commander who delivers it to the mayor of the next town. Each morning will see a short
opening i ceremony as organised in conjunction with the respective mayoral committees of municipalities along the way.
Trans Enduro started in Gqeberha on 1 December. The town stops are Jeffries Bay,
Plettenberg Bay, Buffalo Bay, Wilderness and George, Stilbaai, Hermanus, Struisbaai and Cape Town.
The participants leave Cape Town on 9 December for their base in Saldanha, where a parade will be held to conclude the Trans Enduro.