The South African Sea Cadets has a history of service to the youth of South Africa dating back to 1905, when the first training unit was started in Cape Town by Captain T. S. Price (R.N.R)(retired). In 1968, the then Naval Cadet Corps of South Africa, the name given the movement in 1952 when the Union Defence Force assumed control, reverted back to a private organisation under the governance of the Navy League of South Africa.  In 1998 the organisation changed its name back to the original name of South African Sea Cadets.

After 100 years of service, in 2005, the decision was taken to convert the non profit organisation, South African Sea Cadets, into a Company without share holding, a Section 21 Company in the definition of the then South African Companies Act, but now referred to as a Non Profit Company [NPC][2011]. Concurrent with that decision, it was also decided that the new Company should strive towards the introduction of accredited and recognised training to the standards of the South African Maritime Safety Authority and measuring up to the South African Qualifications Authority's Unit Standards.

These decisions were taken in the light of securing long term financial sustainability in a climate where fundraising was largely governed by whether or not an organisation actively pursued HIV/AIDS interventions.  The greatest scourge facing South Africa is in fact unemployment and skills shortages.  Accredited training and skills training are now receiving their rightful amount of emphasis by both Government and Industry - and thus the "climate" is changing towards greater assistance in this area.

The South African Sea Cadets NPC is well placed to provide training and learning interventions aimed at scarce maritime skills, by offering school going boys and girls an opportunity to not only have fun in large helpings, but at the same time to assimilate such scarce maritime skills training as the Company offers.  This approach will afford these young people the unique opportunity of gaining not just a Grade 12 Certificate at the end of their schooling, but also recognised maritime qualifications which will enhance their ability to seek gainful employment in the maritime industries.

The South African Sea Cadets is a voluntary extra-mural organisations offering learning initiatives geared towards boys and girls of whatever race, culture, gender or religion from the time they enter Grade 6 at their schools until they leave at the end of Grade 12. It furthermore introduces them to a life-style free from gangs, drugs, alcohol and other such undesirable elements by effectively keeping them off the streets.  The training is undertaken by adult instructors who share their free time with these initiatives.  The Day-to-Day management of the Company is vested in an Executive Management Committee which reports through its Chairman to the Board of Directors, who in turn are responsible to the Members and Corporate Members at the Annual General Meeting..

This page updated December 2011