Four young lads stood at the base of Ponte Tower, one of the most recognisable buildings on the Jozi skyline, and looked 54 levels up at the challenge ahead. One that would shine the light on scouting, youth development, and the inner city, they believe in.
Johannesburg, South Africa (09 March 2026) – Mark Booth, Liam Cornell, Michael Goodenough, and David Hawthorne are members of the 1st Blairgowrie Scout Troop. On 1 March, they climbed the Ponte to show that scouting matters, the inner city matters, and that youth development matters.
They completed the climb in 10 minutes and 8 seconds, carrying the Scouts South Africa and 1st Blairgowrie Scout Troop flags all the way up.
The climb was made possible through a partnership with the Dlala Nje Ponte Scout Troop, a Scout unit based in the heart of Hillbrow’s community. Dlala Nje is a social enterprise that hosts the Ponte Tower Challenge three times a year.
Entry fees and sponsorships from these challenges go directly toward their community centres including homework clinics, coding classes, and a rooftop garden. These are all safe, creative, nurturing spaces for the kids and teenagers of the inner city who rely on them everyday.
Mark, Liam, Michael and David knew that by climbing the Ponte’s 948 stairs and completing the challenge, they’d be helping to invest in the next generation of inner-city leaders, as little leaders themselves.
Joburg’s inner city is changing. People and organisations are taking initiative and rebuilding spaces, restoring buildings and investing in the youth that will drive a new Jozi forward. Ponte Tower itself happens to be a part of that story. The tower was once thought to have been left to decay but has now been largely refurbished into a safe, residential community.
In a way, the 1st Blairgowrie Scouts climb was a symbolic nod to the ‘uphill’ work of urban renewal we see happening in the city. There’s a growing movement proving that Jozi’s future is worth the climb.
The image of a Scout is tethered to outdated stereotypes, which Scouts SA hopes to shatter.
The youth organisation is multicultural and inclusive, welcoming boys and girls, from all walks of life, who get together to learn by doing. They gain real-life skills like leadership, environmental conservation, first aid and financial literacy. They’re part of a global movement of over 57 million members worldwide, building friendships across social divides and learning as individuals and as a team, to reach their full potential.
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