Bryanston Holds Largest Scout Group in the Area

The worldwide Scouting Movement has long been associated with South Africa as founder Robert Baden-Powell spent most of his time in Southern Africa between 1884 and 1905 as a soldier. According to history, South Africa’s most prominent role in the origin of Scouting was the Siege of Mafeking in 1899–1900.

During the siege, Baden-Powell was inspired by the Mafeking Cadet Corps who he later referred to in his handbook Scouting for Boys.

Scouting was later born in 1907 on Brownsea Island in Britain when Baden-Powell led a camp which in the end sparked a global phenomenon that has today grown into the world’s biggest youth movement.

In South Africa, the earliest Scout Troops were formed in Cape Town and Johannesburg in 1908.

In Johannesburg, one of the oldest troops is the 1st Kengray BK group – tracing their history back to 1st Belgravia which was founded in 1908.

According to 1st Bryanston Scouts Group leader Gary Pienaar, because Bryanston was originally farmland and infrastructure development did not begin until the late 1940s, it was a natural progression to start a Scout Group in the area. “The 1st Bryanston Scout Group was formally registered on 26 March 1958, has been an active part of the local Bryanston community ever since,” he said.

Scout meetings were initially held in what is now the Cramerview Shopping Centre on Main Road. “A few years later, the group moved into its own purpose-built hall, situated at 40 West Herford Road next to the Braamfontein Spruit. In those days the surrounding area was open veld, as River Club had not yet been developed as a suburb.”

Since then, the troop had achieved a few memorable mentions. The troop achieved its first Springbok Scout in 1969, the highest award a youth member can achieve.

“To earn this prestigious award, the Scout must complete a number of special projects including a construction project, a 40-hour service project and an overnight expedition.

Since then a further 24 Springbok Scout  awards have been presented, the most recent being in August this year.”

The 2nd Bryanston Scout Group was formed in the 1960s but was later closed and its members absorbed into the surround groups in the area.

Pienaar noted that scouting in Gauteng is organised into 10 districts. “1st Bryanston is part of the Sandton District, along with the following groups – 1st Fourways, 1st Midrand, 1st Morningside, 1st Parkmore, 1st Peter Place and 1st Rivertrail – which clearly indicates that the Scout Movement is growing and active in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg.”

Today the 1st Bryanston Scouts are the largest and most active group in the region with a combined membership of 120 youngsters.  They have two Meerkat Dens for children between the ages of five to seven, two Cub Packs for children between the ages of seven and 11 and finally, the Scout Troop for older children between the ages of 11 and 18.

Details: Email Scout Group leader Gary Pienaar on gary.pienaar@scouts.org.za.