About Us

About Us

The West Rand District today consists of Seven Scout Groups situated in the western part of the Witwatersrand ridge, in the South African province of Gauteng. Presently, all active groups in the district are found in the Roodepoort municpal area, which is situated on the Western parts of Johannesburg. West Rand district would also be responsible for groups based in Krugersdorp (Mogale City), Randfontein, Westonarea and Carletonville if they existed (sadly, there are currently no more groups found in any of these areas any longer).

The present West Rand district form part of the Orion Region of Gauteng area , of the South African Scout Association and was officially formed in 2002 when the then "Far West Rand" and "Near West Rand" districts combined. The Near West Rand district is known to have been established in 1916, while evidence exists of the 3rd Krugersdorp scout troop having been registered as early 1908, therefore having been one of the first scout troops in the world to exist.

In recent years, it was also discovered that the first "official" Boy Scout, Warner Goodyear, which is the boy depicted on the bicycle on the famous "Mafeking" postage stamp is infact buried on the West Rand in the Randfontein cemetry. This was only discovered almost 80 years after his death by an English County Commisioner, A Mr John Innes. The official tombstone was laid and unveiled by the then Chief Scout, Mr Garnet De La Hunt, as a monument during 1994.  

At present the District has both a very active Scouters Council and a PSA (Parent Support Association). In recent years groups within the district have been very active in participating in various area activities, such as Kontiki, Kontiki Chairmans Challenge and Kim Shield, and have excelled themselves in this area. In 2006 groups from the West Rand took the first four placings in the Kontiki Chairmans Challenge.

The district is very active on both the Scout and Cub side, with regular annual activities such as Competition camp, Pioneering Competition, Night Hike, Backwoodscamps to mention only a few.