President Mbeki Congratulates Sibusiso Vilane, first Black African to reach Mount Everest, 26 May 2003

President Mbeki Congratulates Sibusiso Vilane, first Black African to reach Mount Everest Today, Monday May 26, all Africans stand 8 848 metres tall.

Sibusiso Vilane has made all of us - of all colours, cultures and stations in the continent - stick out our chests in justifiable pride and wonder.

He has earned his place in the history of climbing as the first black African to reach the top of Mount Everest.

In this, he has shown the heights we can all scale in life if we put our shoulder to the wheel and work at things without flagging.

His example of sheer grit and optimism, not alone but in the closest partnership with others, is exemplary as we Africans face the Everest-like challenges ahead of us, notably to revive our continent and free it from
past socio-economic subjugation.

Years ago, in 1953, when the same Everest (named after a colonial surveyor-general in India) was first climbed, the splendid news broke over an imperial nation celebrating a coronation and a new life under a new monarch, in a changed world and a changing Commonwealth.

In not-incomparable circumstances, Sibusiso has achieved fame just as a new era dawns in Africa - with the post-imperial strivings and struggles of Africans being recalled and lauded during the 40th anniversary of the OAU.
The spirit of the new African Union, which has arisen in strength from the OAU, inspires us all to march on to a sustainable life of success and plenty for Africa. In this, we are in deadly earnest, and we can rightly see
Sibusiso Vilane's achievement as a very special inspiration to this end.

We say to him, on behalf of the people and Government of South Africa: you have done us proud!

End

Bheki Khumalo
Presidential Spokesperson
Chief Director: Communications
The Presidency