Schoemansdal – Hundreds of years ago Sir Robert Baden-Powell conceptualized the idea of Scouts. He then tried it in a camp with 20 boys on the Brownsea Island. Since then scouting has grown rapidly all over the world. South Africa has not been left behind as scouting bands have attended world jamborees since 1920.

The first South African jamboree took place in 1936 but Mpumalanga had to wait until June 1997 with a membership of only 200 Cubs and Scouts.

Recently Scouts were celebrated 100 years of existence worldwide whilst Mpumalanga notched up her 10 years.

In celebrating a decade of existence Nkomazi Scout members, Mancoba Tsabetse, Magic Sibiya, Isaac Gumedze and Chris Mthembu donated bed linen and food parcels to some of the sub-region’s Home Base Care organizations. Chris Mthembu adds that they will be giving mattresses to other Home Base Care organizations and he also mentioned that people must be encouraged to join Scouts as there are many things that one can learn. He mentioned things like leadership and communication skills.

Scouts are divided into three stages. Cubs are made up of members between seven and a half years to eleven and a half years. Those between eleven and a half years to eighteen are Rovers.

(Additional information sourced from Scouts Literature)