Cape Town will be the first major city in South Africa to host a unique artillery gun race.

This novel event, hosted by the City of Cape Town and the Cape Garrison Artillery (CGA), involves over a hundred soldiers, in teams of eleven, pushing anti-aircraft cannons, each weighing about 950 kg, over a route of 7,5 km. It is scheduled for Wednesday, 22 September, starting and ending in front of the City Hall in central Cape Town.

"This is a first for Cape Town and again shows the commitment of the City of Cape Town to celebrate the city’s rich military heritage ahead of Heritage Day,” says Executive Mayor Dan Plato.

"The Gun Push also coincides with the opening of the AAD International Airshow at Ysterplaat, which will attract many international defence and military experts to Cape Town," he adds.

The race starts at 13:00 with a gun salute fired from the Castle of Good Hope. It is expected to last no more than two hours. There will be intermittent road closures in the city centre.

"The idea of getting soldiers to push heavy artillery constitutes one of the ultimate tests of their physical strength and mental stamina," says Major Vidius Archer, Officer Commanding of the CGA.

Aged between 22 and 45 years, about half of the participants are full-time soldiers, while the others are reservists. There will also be a female team.

"The 23mm artillery gun used to be the workhorse of South Africa’s anti-aircraft arsenal. Launched in 1964, it was employed extensively as air defence battery and was also used for ground support," says Major Archer.

Consisting of twin 23mm cannons mounted side by side on a towed two-wheel carriage, the weapon has a missile range of 2,5 km and a maximum road speed of 90 km per hour.

"Although it is now decommissioned, it still symbolises the effectiveness of South Africa’s anti-aircraft artillery. It is maintained in excellent condition at the SA Air Defence Artillery training centre at Diskobolos base in Kimberley," he says.

The nine artillery guns which will be used in the Cape Town race will arrive from Kimberley on 17 September.

The CGA is hosting the event on behalf of the South African Air Defence Artillery. Part of the Grand Parade will be transformed into a public military display with military bands performing.