Johannesburg

Sunday

Rain late. Afternoon clouds. Pleasantly warm.

15°C
29°C

7 day forecasts

Vilane 'on top of the world'

2003-06-05 15:14

Cape Town - Game ranger Sibusiso Vilane recounted on Thursday how he wept when he reached the top of Mount Everest last week to become the first black man to conquer the world's highest peak.

"I dropped to my knees and thanked the Lord for taking me to the top of the mountain. Then I wept. Then I stood up and smiled...I was grateful there was an African standing on top of the world."

Speaking at an environmental affairs media briefing at parliament, Vilane told journalists about his experience and how it felt to be the first black South African to reach the top of the 8 848m Himalayan peak.

The climb, last Monday, had made him gasp for breath, but he had expected it to be much harder than it actually was.

Vilane said thorough preparation, including a week in Scotland practising snow and ice climbing techniques, together with good equipment and clothing, had stood him in good stead.

He had used oxygen during the ascent and was fortunate that the on day he summitted the weather was clear.

"I could see a long way...I had a beautiful view of the world."

He had not remained on top for long before turning and finding his way back down to camp.

Vilane arrived back in South Africa earlier on Thursday, and with his wife and child flew directly to Cape Town for the media briefing, held ahead of Environmental Affairs Minister Valli Moosa's budget vote debate in the National Assembly.

He sat at the briefing with a South African flag draped around his neck, but not the one he took with him out of the country several weeks ago.

That flag, Vilane said, he planted on top of the world, alongside the Tibetan prayer flags already flying there.

Moosa told journalists at the briefing that Vilane's achievement had "brought a tremendous amount of pride and joy to South Africa".

Vilane, an Mpumalanga game ranger, is expected to be present in the House later in the day when Moosa delivers his speech.

- SAPA

inside news24

Weather
Traffic
Lottery
Cpt: 17-23°C Mostly sunny. Mild. Pta: 18-30°C Tstorms late. A mixture of sun and clouds. Pleasantly warm.
Jhb: 15-29°C Rain late. Afternoon clouds. Pleasantly warm. Bloem: 13-32°C Sunny. Pleasantly warm.
Dbn: 19-26°C Drizzle. Morning clouds. Mild. PE: 15-23°C Sunny. Mild.
7 day forecasts...

Jobs - Find your dream job

Cars - Search 1000's of new and used cars

AUDI

2009 Audi A3 2.0 T Sportback Manual - 24000kms
Lava Grey & Tan leather interior
R 275 000

VOLKSWAGEN

Polo 1.4 Trendline 5-dr MY05
2008
R 109,900.00

TOYOTA

Tazz 130 5-dr MY00
2006
R 75,990.00

OPEL

Corsa Lite 1.4 3-dr MY06
2008
R 64,500.00

Property - Find a new home

BLOUBERGSTRAND

Multiple Unit R1,695,000

MIDSTREAM ESTATE

Single Residential R3,800,000

PLETTENBERG BAY

Single Residential R10,000,000

Travel - Look, Book, Go!

Luxury bush escape

Book a five-star stay at Pumba Game Lodge or Richard Branson's Ulusaba Safari Lodge and save R2 000. More details!

Free Games - TOO MUCH NEWS? TAKE A BREAK!

Kalahari.net - shop online today

Great Festive Savings on Books

Up to 30% Off ALL Books. 2.3 million titles on SALE.

Sleek New iPod Range. Order Your's Now!

iPod nano 16GB - Black, Was R2,499.00 Now R2,299.00! Save R200!

Up to 40% off Fabulous Festive Flicks

46 000 DVDs and Blu-Ray on sale now! Pre-order Up and District 9!

Up to 20% off ALL Music

100s of festive new releases now in stock! Now, Bump 25, Bon Jovi & more!

1000s of Festive Toys on Sale

Lots of Toys, free gift wrap, lowest prices on Lego Mindstorm, Ben 10, Hannah Montana & more!

Hot Deal of the Day!

Up to 30% off Books

Ends midnight, 30 November

2.3 million titles on sale! New Stieg Larsson, Jeremy Clarkson, Jamie Oliver & more!

Up to 40% Off Sale on All Books, Toys, CDs, DVDs & Games!