Pretoria - Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula has expressed his condolences to the family of Gugu Zulu.
“It is with a heavy heart to hear of the passing of Gugu Zulu. I know him as a friend who was warm and kind.
“South Africans know him as a great talented motorsport athlete, who excelled on the race course. His family knows him as a loving husband and father,” Minister Mbalula said.
Zulu, who was one of the climbers of the Trek4Mandela, lost his life while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on Monday morning.
He was part of the team which attempts to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in support of young girls from disadvantaged communities.
“He passed on while on a mission to help others and that made him a selfless South African many should emulate. Gugu was young and still had a lot to offer our country. South Africa is poorer without him,” Minister Mbalula said.
According to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Zulu was climbing Kilimanjaro with his wife Letshego.
They both descended the mountain together with Richard Mabaso, the project leader and the medical teams.
The team was led by experienced mountaineer, Sibusiso Vilane.
“Details are sketchy. What we do know is that Gugu experienced problems breathing. The medical team supporting the trek put him on a drip and they descended the mountain with him. We are informed that the medical teams tried everything possible to save his life,” the foundation said in a statement.
The climbers were due to summit Kilimanjaro on Monday for Mandela Day. – SAnews.gov.za
