Mitchell’s Plain SAPS’ Marching and Drilling competition is celebrating its 11th anniversary this year.
The annual showcase for schools and community cadet marching and drilling teams is taking place on Saturday October 13 at the Soccer Oval, at the Stephen Reagan Sports Field in Westridge, from 8am.
Thecadetprogramme, which started in 2007, is the brainchild of former Mitchell’s Plain SAPS station commander, Major General Jeremy Vearey, who is now the deputy head of detectives in the Western Cape.
Abie Isaacs, the chairperson of the Mitchell’s Plain Community Police Forum, said the cadet programme started off as a programme for youth at risk, aiming to teach delinquent youth discipline, respect for authority and to harness their leadership skills for the common good.
The programme was run by Mitchell’s Plain SAPS’ Social Crime Prevention Unit (now Crime Prevention) at schools with 10 members under the guidance of Warrant Officer Mornay Kleinhans.
The programme has since evolved due to its wide appeal to youngsters.
Entry to the event is free and there will be vendors selling food.
Thetechnicalorganising committee has announced that applications for schools interested in participating in the event are now open and the closing date is Tuesday July 31.
A general meeting for all participating schools and those interested in taking part will be held on Wednesday July 25 at the Wolfgat Environmental Centre in Pyrenees Street, Tafelsig, at 2pm.
Application forms are available from the Mitchell’s Plain SAPS’s communications office. Call the office at 021 370 1638 or call Captain Ian Williams on 082 522 3102 or Warrant Officer Cornelia Louw on 071 481 2753 or email mplainschoolsmarchingdrill@gmail.com for more information.