South Africa is mourning the death of Mandla Maseko, the man who had his eyes set on becoming the first black African to go into space.
The 30-year-old died in a motorcycle crash in Pretoria over the weekend, according to a family statement reported by local media.
Maseko became an inspiration to many South Africans when he won an international competition to get a training place at the Axe Apollo Space Academy – and a possible space flight.
I was inspired by (Nelson) Mandela because he broke new ground. Him being the first black president in South Africa at the time that our country was in, it was a massive thing. So for an ordinary person to do extraordinary things, that to me was an inspiration enough
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