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Vilane eyes 6th of 7 summits
14/12/2006 22:16 - (SA)
Tshwarelo eseng Mogakane and Justin Arenstein
White River - The first black man to ever climb the world's highest peak, Mount Everest, has sailed for the South Pole to conquer another monster mountain.
Sibusiso Vilane boarded a ship for Antarctica on Wednesday night, where he intends climbing the ice continent's tallest mountain, Mount Vinson.
Vilane has already climbed five of the world's highest mountains.
He said just before his departure that he plans to be the first black man to climb all Seven Summits - the highest mountains on each continent on the planet.
"Once I've conquered Mount Vinson, I'll only have Mt McKinley in Alaska left. My success is proof that anyone can achieve their dreams - even if you come from a dusty township and don't have money or a university education," he said.
"All you need to do is focus, be honest, and work hard. Young people everywhere should go out and conquer mountains of their own."
Vilane was a fairly junior game ranger in Mpumalanga until two years ago, living in one of South Africa's poorest communities in Nkomazi, with some of the country's highest HIV infection and Aids orphan rates.
'A living treasure'
His drive, bravery, and positive lifestyle were recognised by Mpumalanga Premier Thabang Makwetla last week, when Vilane was declared a 'living treasure'.
Vilane and internationally renowned traditional artist Esther Mahlangu where honoured in recognition of the international acclaim they'd brought the province.
"Both these people have done us proud, and it isn't just us who thinks so. Vilane and Mahlangu are the only recipients from Mpumalanga of the national Order of the Ikhamanga," said Makwetla.
The Order of the Ikhamanga is bestowed on South Africans by President Thabo Mbeki in recognition of excellence in the arts, culture, music, literature and sport. Ikhamanga is a Xhosa word for an indigenous plant called the Strelitzia.
"Vilane is only 36 years old, and has achieved in a very short space of time what most people would fail to achieve in a lifetime. Mama Mahlangu has taught us a very different lesson, showing just how important and how powerful our African traditions are," Makwetla added.
Mahlangu has won world fame for her Ndebele art, which she is now keen to teach to a new generation of South Africans.
- African Eye
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