In the 2006 film, 300, a tiny group of soldiers take on the might of a massive army and change the course of history. In 2026 a veteran military man and his trusted Chaplain are guiding 240 cadet recruits to change the course of Capricorn and surrounds, Kapteinsklip and (more to come) by instilling military precision and spiritual guidance in young minds, and future leaders who find themselves in our most vulnerable communities.
Before meeting with the Royal Military Cadets at Capricorn Primary School, the feedback I received about the area from anyone I asked was not unlike the feedback I had received about places like Delft, Mitchells Plain, Elsies, Lavis or Lavender Hill, which I have written about before. But, as you know, The Raven Report is all about finding that magic, that spark, that energy that breaks generational cycles and rewrites the narrative, unearthing the diamonds, and bring back the gold.
General Jonathan Bebe and General Ashwell Ontong are the seasoned minds behind the Royal Military Cadets which was created in 2024. Jonathan comes with the experience of a military veteran who has served his country for more than 3 decades in the South African Navy, while Ashwell serves the community and the cadets as a Chaplain and dedicated man of the cloth.
The energy of these two gentlemen, now in their 60’s, is extraordinary and it is having a very positive impact on the lives of the children of Capricorn and Kapteinsklip, who have 200 and 40 cadet recruits respectively.
I was invited to learn more about Royal Military Cadets and recently met up with a bunch of the cadets at Capricorn Primary.
The two Generals, and I have to add that its not a formal or accredited rank as such, but it carries weight in the Royal Military Cadets, which is a registered NPO. Jonathan tells me they work very closely with schools and social workers in the areas where they operate. “We are a semi-military organization which focuses on cultivating military discipline in our cadets so that they can excel in areas of leadership, respect, character building, self-motivation, academic success, survival skills, foot drilling, first aid, physical stamina and more.”
Present at the school to meet with me are about 20 cadets and some parents.
I address the kids collectively and ask how their lives have been impacted by the RMC and what they like about it. Unsurprisingly it is 16-year-old Warrant Officer Riley Peters who steps up and answers in typical fearless military fashion. “The drills and activities we do together allows us to operate as one, and we learn that if one fails, we all fail, so we support and build each other up and we leave no one behind.”
Now I’m picking up serious Top Gun vibes and I’m thinking I wouldn’t mind going into the danger zone with this lot behind me. “We come here every Saturday and it’s a place where we share a common purpose and we get to engage in activities with meaning.” says another young cadet.
“There’s not much constructive to do in the community which has a distinctive lack of green areas or decent service delivery. I find that my son looks forward to Saturdays to spend time in this positive environment,” says one of the young moms.
I’m still a bit two minded about this whole thing, cos I’m wondering if the hectic military discipline is a good thing for little kids ranging from 7 to 17. But they quickly come out of their shells and several volunteer their very positive experiences about being part of the RMC.
A young Mitchells Plain mother tells me that she firmly believes that her son joining the RMC has steered him away from ending up in a gang.
Its not until the youngsters do a bit of a drill demo, that it finally clicks for me. The kids are suddenly transformed into a disciplined, serious, focused unit of restrained energy. Warrant Officer Riley takes total control, the cadets, execute her commands without hesitation and with perfectly timed precision. Their faces have transformed into works of poetic concentration and I feel myself involuntarily wanting to execute her drills.
Jonathan and Ashwell are looking on with unabashed pride, while maintaining their serious military faces. But seriously, they have the vibe of two veteran lions that have emerged victorious through the jungle after having taken on all pretenders. There’s a certain swagger that experienced lions come with, that energy that leaves you in no doubt that they know what’s what. And in this case, what’s what is that their blend of military precision and spiritual guidance is a much-needed tonic for our communities.
“It’s about breaking cycles, shifting mindsets, elevating voices and energies and preparing the next generation to live with pride and change the narrative for the better,” says General Ontong.
The kids end off with a rendition of the national anthem that will give the average bok-supporter a run for their money. And it is executed with a steely focus and military discipline which can only be a good thing in a community afflicted by a government that, seemingly, has better things to do than taking care of its most vulnerable communities.
Contact Jonathan and Ashwell now to sign up your kid: 071 749 5121 / 0631459918 / royalmilitarycadets@gmail.com / ashwellontong87@gmail.com
