2023.12.03 - Summiting Mount Manaslu by Angela Yeung

Philanthropist and award-winning jewellery designer Angela Yeung made history in September this year by becoming the first South African to summit Mount Manaslu in the Nepalese Himalayas, which at 8,163 metres is the eighth highest peak in the world.

What makes her story different is that she has no background in mountaineering - she climbs to raise awareness and funds for the victims of gender-based violence, a social scourge which is all too prevalent in South Africa.

Before beginning her ascent she surprised the other mountaineers at base camp by laying out hundreds of bras she had collected for women who cannot afford them - an important symbol because research has shown that perpetuators of sexual violence see their absence as an invitation.

“If I had to climb for myself I’d never have the motivation - I’m climbing for people who need my voice - that gives me my Why,” she says. “In South Africa we have such a big mountain to climb.”

Friends were surprised when Angela took up climbing as she was never an outdoor person - her favourite activities were Latin American and ballroom dancing.

Her passion for summiting mountains began in 2018, when she was invited to join the Trek4Mandela expedition to climb Kilimanjaro in honour of Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday.

She made the trek with a delegation led by SA’s former public protector Thuli Madonsela, and raised R150,000 for sanitary pads for the Caring4Girls Foundation.

To climb Mount Manaslu, which is often taken on as preparation for Everest, Angela went through a gruelling training regime.

The ascent took 16 hours, half of which were during the night, in a temperature of -15 C. That went smoothly, but on the way down severe weather and an icy rope caused her to slip and injure her ankle. After painfully retracing her steps to the second camp, she was airlifted off the mountain.

Do join us to hear Angela, who is also an ambassador for Brand SA, speak about her adventures and the passion which drives her!