“GUGU was my only son and my hero.” These were the words of Peter Zulu, the devastated father of racing driver Gugu Zulu.
THE SUNTEAM VISITED HIM AND HIS FAMILY AT THEIR HOUSE IN SANDTON, JOBURG, YESTERDAY.
The 63-year-old dad said they were all having trouble coming to terms with his son’s sudden death.
“We are devastated. It feels like it’s all a dream,” said the father of two. He told the SunTeam his 38-year-old son was a sweet soul who loved his family with all his heart.
Peter described Gugu as a sporty person who had loved riding bicycles from an early age.
“He started riding on a BMX and was on that bike every day.” Gugu’s uncle, Tseliso Motloheloa (59), said when he heard the news it was hard for him to accept it was true.
“He was fit as a fiddle and that’s why this is all so puzzling.
“All we saw were those Facebook posts where he said he wasn’t feeling well but he was going to be fine. “No one thought it was serious,” he said.
Meanwhile, condolences keep pouring in for Gugu, with many people on social media describing him as an inspirational man who was passionate about his community and improving the lives of others.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura said: “His participation in motorsport gave Gauteng youth hope that they too could make it against all odds.”
At the time of his death, Gugu was climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s Trek4Mandela campaign. Foundation CEO Sello Hatang is in Tanzania with Gugu’s wife, Letshego.
The foundation released a statement saying they were waiting for documents from the Tanzanian authorities and the South African Home Affairs Department before arrangements could be made to transport the body home.
It was reported that all the other participants in the climb had returned from the summit safely and were informed of Gugu’s death on Monday night.
They were apparently devastated by the news and were due to make their way down the mountain yesterday afternoon.
They were due to return to South Africa today.
Gugu was climbing the mountain with Letshego and 44 others, including business people and other prominent figures. He died on Monday morning just before reaching the top of the mountain. Gugu and Letshego got married two years ago and had a daughter together. She turned one just last month.
