South African Youth Group Uniforms

Figure 1.--This photograph of South African Scouts is undated, but was probably taken in the 1930s. It may have been at a Jamboree in England.

The best known youth group in South Africa is of course the Boy Scouts. Baden Powell played an important role in the Bohr War and his expereinces in South Africa played an important role in the foundation of the Scoyting movement. During the Apartheid era, the Scouts were on of the few institutions in which one could find some minimal degree of participation by different racial groups. This was probably because English South Afraicans played a major role in the Scouting movement. Less well known outside of the country is the the Voortrekker movement. This movement was run by Afrukaaner South Africans and almost all the boys were Afrrikaaners. The penkoppe (singular: penkop) are the junior division of comparable to what Cubs are to Boy Scouts. Penkop ('pin head') is basically an affectionate designation of a youngster in general, referring to the crew cut of many Afrikaner boys. More particularly the term is used for boy soldiers who joined the ranks of the Boer Commandos that fought the British between 1899 and 1902. They in turn serve as as a role model for Voortrekker 'cubs', hence their name.

Boy Scouts

The best known youth group in South Africa is of course the Boy Scouts. Baden Powell played an important role in the Bohr War and his expereinces in South Africa played an important role in the foundation of the Scoyting movement. The Cubs in particular drew much of their lore from Africa--except in America. During the Apartheid era, the Scouts were on of the few institutions in which one could find some minimal degree of participation by different racial groups. This was probably because English South Afraicans played a major role in the Scouting movement.

Voortrekker Movement

Less well known outside of the country is the the Voortrekker movement. This movement was run by Afrukaaner South Africans and almost all the boys were Afrrikaaners. The penkoppe (singular: penkop) are the junior division of comparable to what Cubs are to Boy Scouts. Penkop ('pin head') is basically an affectionate designation of a youngster in general, referring to the crew cut of many Afrikaner boys. More particularly the term is used for boy soldiers who joined the ranks of the Boer Commandos that fought the British between 1899 and 1902. They in turn serve as as a role model for Voortrekker 'cubs', hence their name.

Other

HBU knows of no other important South African youth groups.