South African Military Academy launches 43rd annual Exercise Trans Enduro

The South African Military Academy, nestled in Saldanha and affiliated with the Faculty of Military Science at Stellenbosch University, is poised to kick off its much-anticipated annual event, Exercise Trans Enduro. This unique nine-day endurance and community service initiative, now in its 43rd year, challenges students to test their physical limits while simultaneously serving communities along South Africa’s stunning coastline.

Stretching over 1,400 km from Gqerberha in the Eastern Cape to Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape, Trans Enduro merges athletic prowess with deep-rooted social responsibility, leadership, and teamwork. Throughout the event, participating students will not only be pushing their limits but will also play an active role in uplifting the communities they traverse. The exercise aims to raise funds for the Academy’s MASIZA community outreach programme, which this year focuses on youth empowerment, early childhood development, and environmental sustainability.

“The entire exercise is planned and executed by the Academy students. This develops their leadership skills and enhances their understanding of practical issues related to community service. In return, communities get exposed to the high calibre of the young men and women serving in defence of the country,” explains Major Ashwell Lourens, Senior Military Instructor and Exercise Leader at the Military Academy, who serves as a mentor to the participants.

Nine diverse teams, including land, running, log, signal, media, cycling, and sea teams, will travel together from the Eastern Cape to Saldanha over 11 days, with overnight stays in various towns along the way. The cycling team will navigate the distance on bicycles, while the sea team will journey along the coastline in two rubber dinghies. The logistics of the event partner with a land team that drives between towns raising funds and a log team that prepares for the arriving participants. Notably, the running team will cover a distance of 10 km each day, with members rotating through different teams at designated points.

A long-standing tradition features the mayors of the towns along the route, who each write a short letter of goodwill to their counterparts in neighbouring municipalities. This letter transmits not only a spirit of camaraderie but also fosters goodwill as the exercise commander delivers them from one town to the next.

The legacy of Exercise Trans Enduro dates back to 43 years ago when a group of enterprising Military Academy students organised an adventure race from Port Elizabeth to Saldanha using inflatable rubber ducks, echoing an adventurous spirit reminiscent of the Trans Agulhas adventure race. Over the years, the event has evolved significantly; it was initially part of the student RAG competition’s drive for the coveted “Smoeg” trophy at Stellenbosch University, directing funds towards community service projects.

In 1998, a cycling component was introduced, following the route along the N2. In 2002, community service initiatives were integrated into the framework, marking a substantial shift towards serving the towns along the route. A running team was later included in the 2014 iteration, establishing a multi-faceted approach to endurance and service.

In 2025, the Military Academy will continue to uphold the spirit of Ubuntu and service through this remarkable exercise, reinforcing the vital bond between the South African National Defence Force and the communities it is proud to serve.