The South African Military Academy at Saldanha, home to the Faculty of Military Science of Stellenbosch University (SU), geared up for its annual Exercise Trans Enduro, a unique nine-day endurance and community service event that sees students testing their physical limits while giving back to communities along South Africa’s coastline. The team visited Still Bay on 03 December 2025.

Now in its 35th year, Trans Enduro combines athletic endurance with social responsibility, leadership, and teamwork. Students from the Academy plan, fund, and execute the entire event, traveling from Gqerberha 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 community outreach programme, while participants also take part in social impact activities such as cleaning streets, painting schools, and visiting retirement homes.

This year, the MASIZA programme focuses on youth empowerment and environmental sustainability. The Masiza Team visited Ouma Lena se Huis in Melkhoutfontein, which plays an instrumental role in community development. The Masiza Team assisted with various legacy initiatives, which includes beautification of the facility through painting and landscaping.

It is tradition for the mayor or their delegated representative of each town to write a letter of goodwill to the next town’s mayor. The letter is handed to the exercise commander, who delivers it at the following day’s opening ceremony. In Still Bay, the Hessequa Municipal Speaker, Councillor Thinus van den Berg attended the launch by welcoming Trans Enduro Military Exercise to Hessequa and Still Bay. The Speaker also delivered a motivational speech followed by the traditional handover of the Letter of Goodwill.

This initiative not only brings the South African National Defense Force closer to communities, but it also plays a critical role in uplifting local communities, and supporting a flourishing ecosystem of collaboration between all stakeholders. Furthermore, this event sets the tone for a busy festive season, where holidaymakers can enjoy all Hessequa’s tourist facilities.

Hessequa Tourism would like to thank the Trans Enduro Military team for visiting the beautiful town of Still Bay and for positively contributing to the upliftment of local communities. We look forward to the 2026 edition.