SANDF hosts university students

By: Bibi Sibanyoni
Photos by Itumeleng Makhubela
Posted 06 July 2012

A group of 45 university students from all nine provinces were gathered together, as guest of the South African National Defence Force, which gave them a day two days experience of the life of a soldier. The visit took place from 27 to 29 June 2012.

The group arrived at the Gerotek Testing Centre west of Tshwane a place they called home for a night. They were welcomed to a warm lunch to suit the cold weather, where after the activities for the day began.

Col Steven van Neel welcomed them and laid down the military rules for the duration of the visit and said, “Today you have been given an opportunity many kids would love to have, so I urge you to have fun, make new friends and above all learn as much as you can about the military. The Military is a place for discipline and for the next two days you will be treated as young soldiers.”

The students were later separated into groups and were allocated their own tents to be set up in the bush. Each one was eager to be called a soldier and had to set up his or her own tent, stretcher bed, pillow, blankets, water bottle, Dixie and cup. It gave them a feel of being in basic training.