South Africa: Construction Regiment, under the leadership of the Officer Commanding, Colonel Constance Tlhaole, received hundreds of youth across nine provinces who are to partake in the Youth Leadership Development Programme learning programme.
The uneasy youth were welcomed the military way, while they were still puzzled as to what was going on arrival. The instructors commanded them to carry all their luggage in their left hand. What seemed like confusion before their eyes, one instructor shouted, “Single file and follow me.” Quietly the confused youth followed him.
The other instructor from afar was in the mood to drill the first group that arrived early in the morning of 16 September 2023. They walked, passed in rows of threes with the shiny eating tray on the left hand called “varkpan” in the military jargon, and they shouted, “Left, right, left”.
As they were marching in a spare moment, their faces beamed with pride as the sideway onlookers cheered for them. Their confidence in them stood out, as this was to show off to the newly arrived youth who arrived in the afternoons.
Military Police proceeded with searching for luggage. Simultaneously the South African Military Health Services were on standby for any situation that may require medical attention. The appointed SA Army officers and the officials from the Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development members ensured smooth registrations.
The youth are recruited from disadvantaged communities and the programme is run by the Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development and the SA Army is the host. The programme will run from 16 September 2023 to 08 December 2023.
The Officer Commanding 1 Construction Regiment, Colonel Conny Tlhaole alluded “We welcome all the members, we are ready to impart discipline so that they become better leaders of tomorrow”.
