AN ORPHAN born in KwaZulu-Natal is about to make history as the world's youngest black person to walk to the South Pole.
Nzuzo Mnikathi, 19, will be joined on the epic expedition by Sean Wisedale - the only South African to have ever climbed the seven highest mountains in the world: Vinson, Aconcagua, McKinley, Everest, Elbrus, Kilimanjaro and Carstensz Pyramid.
The two will be joined by four other South African adventurers. The team hope to complete the journey in 14 days.
Mnikathi, who recently completed his matric exams, said he would face sub-zero temperatures to create a "Childhood Development" awareness. He has the backing of The Unlimited Child - a foundation that addresses the need for early childhood development.
Foundation co-founder Lain Buchan said Mnikathi would be an ambassador for over six million South African children who have had little or no exposure to early childhood development.
"Nzuzo is a living example that people have unlimited potential, although he has had a tough life," Buchan said.
He said he met Mnikathi through his aunt, who works at the foundation.
"A lot of the young guys we interviewed did not have the mental strength needed for the trip up until we met Nzuzo," Buchan said.
He said thorough research, including on the Internet, and constant communication with "veterans of the South Pole" had established that no young black person had ever been there.
Mnikhathi said the life-changing opportunity came while he was still writing his exams.
He said in preparation for the trip he had had to spend six hours a day inside a freezer while doing other forms of training.
The team will fly out of South Africa on January 9 2012, then fly to a base camp in Antarctica where they will start walking 111km to the South Pole.
Each team member will drag 40kg of sled which will be carrying food, clothes and sleeping tents.
Icy challenge for KZN orphan
AN ORPHAN born in KwaZulu-Natal is about to make history as the world's youngest black person to walk to the South Pole.
Nzuzo Mnikathi, 19, will be joined on the epic expedition by Sean Wisedale - the only South African to have ever climbed the seven highest mountains in the world: Vinson, Aconcagua, McKinley, Everest, Elbrus, Kilimanjaro and Carstensz Pyramid.
The two will be joined by four other South African adventurers. The team hope to complete the journey in 14 days.
Mnikathi, who recently completed his matric exams, said he would face sub-zero temperatures to create a "Childhood Development" awareness. He has the backing of The Unlimited Child - a foundation that addresses the need for early childhood development.
Foundation co-founder Lain Buchan said Mnikathi would be an ambassador for over six million South African children who have had little or no exposure to early childhood development.
"Nzuzo is a living example that people have unlimited potential, although he has had a tough life," Buchan said.
He said he met Mnikathi through his aunt, who works at the foundation.
"A lot of the young guys we interviewed did not have the mental strength needed for the trip up until we met Nzuzo," Buchan said.
He said thorough research, including on the Internet, and constant communication with "veterans of the South Pole" had established that no young black person had ever been there.
Mnikhathi said the life-changing opportunity came while he was still writing his exams.
He said in preparation for the trip he had had to spend six hours a day inside a freezer while doing other forms of training.
The team will fly out of South Africa on January 9 2012, then fly to a base camp in Antarctica where they will start walking 111km to the South Pole.
Each team member will drag 40kg of sled which will be carrying food, clothes and sleeping tents.