The Rotary Club of Stellenbosch made a splash in the Eerste River this past weekend, where the ducks of local businesses raced to be crowned the winner of inaugural Stellenbosch Corporate Duck Race.

Stellenbosch businesses were invited to swop the boardroom for the riverbank and the locals showed up. Each business purchased a duck to the tune of R2 500, decorated it and sent it along the river at Spier Wine Farm on Saturday 19 September.

Hosted by the Rotary Club of Stellenbosch, the event was held for the benefit of the Stellenbosch Gender-based violence (GBV) Centre.

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The centre in Ida’s Valley is 24-hour facility providing free, comprehensive care to survivors of gender-based violence. Opened in February 2024, the centre is a one-stop for all necessary services.

More than 1 200 persons have been helped since its establishment, with more than 40% of those helped under the age of 11 years, explained centre manager Carol van Zyl.

The duck race provided a great deal of excitement for all participatents, with many an adult running along the 200 m stretch of river to keep up with their voyaging duck.

Neighbouring Rotarians from the Groot Fisantekraal and Helderberg Sunrise clubs also participated but ultimately it was the Rotary Club of Paarl who’s duck came out tops.

Scroll through the photos of the event below.