For 39 learners from Postmasburg High School, travelling to Cape Town for the National Drill Competition on 2–3 October 2026 was an opportunity to represent their school and the wider Postmasburg community on a national stage. But with the team relying on fundraising to cover its expenses, getting there was not guaranteed. Support through the Lesedi Solar Park Trust’s Community Response Fund helped address the financial barrier, making it possible for the learners to participate.
The journey began in 2025 when deputy principal Ms Leonie A. Vitti watched a marching drill competition on television and questioned why the opportunity was not available in the Northern Cape. Rather than leaving it at that, she contacted the relevant organisers, obtained the rules and regulations, and attended a workshop in the Eastern Cape with the team.
The initiative soon produced results. In 2025, the team won Best Newcomers and Best Drum Major at competitions in the Eastern Cape and Cape Town.
For Ms Vitti, however, marching drills are about more than trophies. She wants learners to develop discipline, listening skills, and teamwork, while learning to take responsibility for their actions and look out for one another.
Being part of the team requires learners to arrive on time for practice, follow instructions, and communicate with their teachers when they cannot attend. These expectations help learners work together towards a shared goal and develop habits they can apply beyond the competition.
When funding becomes a barrier
Despite the team’s commitment, participating in competitions comes with significant costs. The team is self-funded and has no official school budget. Transport, accommodation, meals, uniforms, shoes, socks, hats and other equipment all need to be arranged.
The school raises funds through activities such as civvies days and selling items, but these efforts do not cover all the expenses. Some parents are also unable to afford the additional costs. For Ms Vitti, this creates a difficult challenge: ensuring that committed learners are not excluded simply because their families cannot afford to contribute.
“Our goal is not to leave anyone behind because some of them are incredibly committed,” she explained.
In 2026, financial constraints prevented the team from attending the workshop and competition in the Eastern Cape. The school was subsequently allowed to participate in the Cape Town competition, provided the necessary funding could be secured.
Through its Community Response Fund, under the Community Pride category, the Lesedi Solar Park Trust recommended financial suport towards the team’s competition-related expenses. This support helped address the financial barrier and enabled the learners to take up the opportunity to represent Postmasburg at national level.
The support was important because having the commitment and willingness to participate was not enough on its own. The learners also needed the resources to make the journey possible.
More than a competition
For the learners, travelling to Cape Town offered experiences beyond marching drill. Some visited the city for the first time, stayed in a hotel for the first time, and went on a tour. They also met learners from other schools and competed against more established marching drill teams.
The experience reinforced the values Ms Vitti hopes the programme will develop. Regular practice requires learners to listen to instructions, arrive on time, communicate when they are absent, and work together. The team also gives them opportunities to build friendships and learn to support one another.
For Grade 12 learner Jedidiah Uithaler, the 2026 competition was particularly meaningful because it was her final year on the team. While the team won two trophies in 2025, it did not receive an award at the 2026 competition.
Yet Jedidiah believes the experience gave her something worth carrying into his future.
“My experience was both good and bad. In 2025 we won two trophies. For 2026, it was my last year and I gave my all, but we didn’t win anything. All I can say is that I won by making memories with my team and motivating them to do great next year in 2027,” he said.
As she prepares to attend university, Jedidiah says she is taking away discipline, listening skills and teamwork, which she believes will help her in the next stage of his life.
Her reflection highlights why opportunities like these matter. The value of participating is not measured only by trophies, but also by the relationships learners build, the responsibility they learn to take and the skills they can apply in their studies and future careers.
For Postmasburg High School, marching drill has become an opportunity to help learners develop these values while representing their community. For the 39 learners who travelled to Cape Town, the trip allowed them to put their preparation into practice and experience competing at national level.
Through its Community Response Fund, the Lesedi Solar Park Trust responds to needs and opportunities within its beneficiary communities, including helping local groups represent their communities at district, provincial and national level.
In this case, support helped address the financial barrier that threatened the team’s participation. The learners returned without a trophy in 2026, but they gained memories, friendships, and lessons they can carry into their future studies and working lives.
Their journey shows why access to opportunities matters: young people may have the commitment and determination to take part, but sometimes they also need the resources to get there.