Trek4Mandela Team’s Tearful Return to South Africa from Kilimanjaro
It was an emotional return from Mount Kilimanjaro for members of the Trek4Mandela team yesterday, after the tragic passing of rally driver and TV personality Gugu Zulu (38). Team leader and experienced climber, Sibusiso Vilane, broke down in tears at a press conference at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, as he recalled the […]
It was an emotional return from Mount Kilimanjaro for members of the Trek4Mandela team yesterday, after the tragic passing of rally driver and TV personality Gugu Zulu (38).
Team leader and experienced climber, Sibusiso Vilane, broke down in tears at a press conference at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, as he recalled the tragic trip to Tanzania and his promise to bring the 41 climbers back home safely.
He said: “I am disappointed today to say that I did not deliver the promise. To the families and friends I made the promise, I am not proud of myself… I am very sorry, to the Zulu family, relatives, his lovely wife and the baby… I am sorry and to the country.”
The group gave Vilane a standing ovation for his performance during the expedition.
The team’s summit of Africa’s tallest mountain was timed to coincide with Nelson Mandela Day on Monday 18 July, and was part of a charity campaign for sanitary pads for schoolgirls (who are otherwise unable to attend school) which Zulu strongly supported.
Nelson Mandela Foundation CEO Sello Hatang called on South Africans to support the charity drive in honour of Zulu’s memory. Zulu, who was accompanied by his wife Letshego on the hike, believed strongly in the cause. He leaves behind a one-year-old daughter Lelethu.
According to team doctor Roxanne Schutte, Zulu had been complaining of an itchy throat days before the summit began. She said it will be important to wait for postmortem results to uncover the actual cause of death and that all reports now are pure speculation.
Watch Video: Tears as Trek4Mandela team recount the day Gugu Zulu died
https://youtu.be/S6M41TjKWbo