As one of South Africa’s most celebrated rally drivers, he was respected both locally and internationally.
Zulu died during a Trek4Mandela campaign on Mount Kilimanjaro on Monday morning, the Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) confirmed.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce that one of the climbers on the Trek4Mandela, Gugu Zulu, lost his life while (trying to reach the summit of) Kilimanjaro early this morning,” said NMF director of communications Neeran Naidoo.
“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.”
According to eNCA, Zulu complained of breathing problems before he was taken to hospital. The medical team tried everything possible to save his life.
He went to Kilimanjaro with his wife, Letshego, and other celebrities for their Keep a Girl Child in School project as part of giving back for this year’s Nelson Mandela Day.
Zulu posted on his Instagram two days ago that he was having flu-like symptoms and that he was struggling with the mountain.
Altitude sickness occurs when a climber cannot get enough oxygen from the air at high altitudes. This causes symptoms such as a headache, loss of appetite and trouble sleeping. It happens most often when people who are not used to high altitudes go quickly from lower altitudes to 2,400 metres or higher.
He was a VW motoracing driver at the time of his death. More disturbing this happened on Mandela Day!
Minister of sport Fikile Mbalula also sent his message of condolences.
Gugu lives wife and a baby girl.
I had a privilege to meet and interview him on many occasions from motoring launches to whisky tastings.
At the time of publishing messages of condolences were streaming in.
Rest eternally in Peace my brother, oh what a gentle soul!
