Marching squad in line for competition

THREE Port Elizabeth schools will represent the province for the first time at the National Schools Marching Drill Competition in Cape Town on Saturday.

The squad, comprising 45 pupils from Woolhope, Bertram and Motherwell high schools was selected after an inter-schools marching drill competition in July.

The one day competition, organised by Go Big Community Development and the education department in conjunction with South African National Defence Force (SANDF) aims to groom pupils in a fight against crime and drugs in the Bay.

Go Big spokesman Addie Jappie said: "For the past year we had a pilot project where the army in Humewood coached schools around the Bay.

"By doing this project we are trying to combat crime, and promote the wearing and respect of school uniform."

Participants will be judged according to different categories such as grand march pas, best dressed, best exhibition and best drum major.

The squad had undergone a four day training by Cape Town's marching drilling coach Dawood Davids at the SANDF in Humewood.

"I am confident in what we have achieved in the past four days.

"It is their first time participating in this competition and we still need experience but Davids managed to transform them in time for the competition," Jappie said. - Yonela Mgwali