page_title: Scouts South Africa
section_title: Patrol Leaders Training Unit
hierarchical_section_title: Scouts South Africa / Events / Patrol Leaders Training Unit
caption_attribution_description: English: Lexden Woggle worn by PLTU attendees. The woggle is a five-Turk's head knot with three strands, and is usually made from white plastic insulated wire.
context_page_description: Scouts South Africa is the World Organization of the Scout Movement recognised Scout association in South Africa. Scouting began in the United Kingdom in 1907 through the efforts of Robert Baden-Powell and rapidly spread to South Africa, with the first Scout troops appearing in 1908. South Africa has contributed many traditions and symbols to World Scouting.
  Scouts South Africa caters for youth and young adults from the ages of 5 through 30. It is split into four sections - Meerkats, Cubs, Scouts, and Rovers - with each section serving a different age group and concentrating on different areas of personal development. It is also one of the largest youth organisations in the rural parts of South Africa and performs many community upliftment programmes in those areas.
  The highest award attainable by a Scout in South Africa is the Springbok award. A Scout is required to complete all the requirements for the Springbok award before their 18th birthday.
  Scouts South Africa was one of the first youth organisations to open its doors to youth and adults of all races in South Africa. This happened on 2 July 1977 at a conference known as Quo Vadis.
context_section_description: The Patrol Leaders Training Unit (or PLTU) is a 7- to 12-day course run at various venues around South Africa. PLTU is a very physically and mentally strenuous course, open to Scouts who are over 14½ years old and have achieved their Discoverer advancement badge.
  The first of what was to become the Patrol Leader training Unit courses was run at Lexden — Natal Gilwell Scout Training Camp in July 1959, under the leadership of Dudley Forde, with 19 Scouts from the 2nd Durban Y.M.C.A. Scout Group in attendance. Courses were offered to boys from the same Group over the next five years until the 6th Course in October 1964 which was opened to participants from South Durban District.
  In October 1967 the Patrol Leader Training Unit was formed to offer formal Leadership Training courses for Scout Patrol Leaders in the then Natal Division. The nine members comprising the original Unit were Dudley Forde [Chairman], Fr Ian Laurenson, Lynn Reynolds, Paddy McDowell, Paul and Helen Bezencon, Ian Hoare, Tony Hornby and Bill Sewell.
  The KwaZulu-Natal Patrol Leader training Unit celebrated the holding of its 100th course in July 2004.
  Dudley Forde, Fr Ian Laurenson, James Radford, Doug Drysdale, Bryan Dibben, Craig Shaw, Grant Martens and Guy Caws have led the PLTU over its first 45 years.
  This Unit hosted and mentored leaders who went on to create Patrol Leader Training Units in other centres in South Africa: Ian Hoare — East London, Derek Swemmer — Pretoria, Lynn Reynolds — Free State, Bill Hodges and Bruce Maree — Eastern Cape, Ian Harry and Chris Barrett — Gauteng, Peter Foster — Western Cape.
  A typical PLTU course focuses on character development in each individual, including the development of physical, mental and spiritual qualities. Qualities such as leadership and team spirit are instilled in the Scouts during the course.
  There are a number of PLTU courses on offer around South Africa
  Gilten PLTU — Held in Johannesburg
  Gilqua PLTU — Held in the Western Cape
  Weston PLTU — Held in Pretoria
  Lexden PLTU — The original PLTU course held in KwaZulu-Natal
  Gilcoast PLTU — Held in the Eastern Cape
  On the successful completion of a PLTU course a Scout is entitled to wear a PLTU woggle (which is made by the Scout while on the course) and to wear a special PLTU badge on their uniform. Many Troops also require a Scout to complete a PLTU course before allowing them to become a Patrol Leader.
caption: Lexden Woggle worn by PLTU attendees. The woggle is a five-Turk's head knot with three strands, and is usually made from white plastic insulated wire.
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