This year’s Faculty of Military Science Trans Enduro which starts on Friday (28 November) will be the 43rd of its kind to see students push their physical limits while lending a helping hand to Cape coastal communities across two provinces.
The enduro, according to a Stellenbosch University statement, combines athletic endurance with social responsibility, leadership and teamwork. Military Academy students plan, fund, and execute the event, travelling from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape to Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape, a journey of more than 1 400 km that includes multiple athletic and outreach components.
The exercise raises funds for the Academy’s Masiza, derived from an isiZulu word meaning to help, community outreach programme, with participants also taking part in social impact activities such as cleaning streets, painting schools and visiting retirement homes.
This year, the Masiza programme focuses on youth empowerment, early childhood development and environmental sustainability.
“The entire exercise is planned and executed by the Academy students. This develops leadership skills and enhances their understanding of the practical issues related to community service. In return, communities are exposed to the high calibre of the young men and women serving in defence of the country,” said Major Ashwell Lourens, Military Academy Senior Military Instructor and Exercise Leader who serves as mentor to this year’s Trans Enduro participants.
Nine teams, including land, running, logistic, signal, media, cycling and sea teams – travel from the Eastern Cape to Saldanha over 11 days, staying in towns en route.
The cycling team covers the distance using pedal power, the sea team travels along the coast in two rubber dinghies and the land team drives from town to town raising funds, while the log team prepares for the other teams’ arrival. In addition, a running team daily covers a distance of 10 km. Trans Enduro participants rotate through different teams at set points.
A tradition that the mayor of each town writes a short letter of goodwill to the mayor of the next town is integral to Trans Enduro. The letter is handed to the exercise commander who delivers it to the mayor of the next town.
Summerstrand’s Hobie Beach in Gqeberha will see Trans Enduro 2025 start at 08h00 on Friday when the various teams set off for stop number one at Jeffrey’s Bay. Other night stops en route are Plettenburg Bay, George, Stilbaai (Hessequa), Cape Agulhas (Struisbaai), Overstrand (Hermanus), Cape Town (Bloubergstrand) with the finish line at Saldanha Bay’s Hoedjies Bay Beach on 6 December.
