Our News
SASI Foundation Donation
Apr 1, 2024
AFC Directors wish to express their gratitude for the generous contribution received from the SASI Foundation in March 2024.
Thank you, and farewell, Noel!
Apr 23, 2023
Like the rest of the world, we woke up to the news of Noel Hanna's passing on April 18th, 2023. At a time like this, there's not much to say except to say, thank you, farewell and rest well.
AFC Advisory Council
Aug 11, 2022
AFC is looking for new members of our Advisory Council.
Public appeal to the National Lotteries Commission
Aug 8, 2022
The National Lotteries Commission has positively impacted Sport in South Africa, having allocated over R6 billion towards the sport and recreation category since their inception in 2002. Despite this, mountaineers in the grassroots are systemically excluded from their funding pool as we operate in the recreation space. Funding guidelines that are published often exclude sport clubs from applying for large grants and international participation despite objectives presented. This limits participation in high altitude mountaineering sport to affordability, and the average black woman in South Africa cannot participate without external funding.
MCSA has amended their recommendations!
May 10, 2022
On April 1st, 2022, AFC filed a formal grievance against MCSA for their recommendations to the South African Goverment. The issue has now been amicably resolved with MCSA.
Correspondence on MCSA
Apr 3, 2022
AFC Management has taken the difficult but necessary decision to file a formal grievance against the Mountain Club of South Africa (MCSA). The outcomes of this process will hopefully clarify MCSA's mandate as a full member of the UIAA.
Happy women's day, South Africa!
Aug 9, 2020
Today we are celebrating national women's day in South Africa. This day commemorates the 1956 march by an estimated 20,000 women who protested the apartheid government laws that required black people to carry a passport that allowed them to work and move around in designated white areas. At the time, the minority white population controlled 63% of the land. May we honour those women by continuing to fight for what is just and what is right. Happy women's day, South Africa!
Environment, race and social justice intersect
Jul 8, 2020
Black Lives Matter movement in the US has been an emotional undertaking for us on a few levels. Procedural inequalities seemed to be an issue for the adversely affected races and this unity in all races denouncing racism is welcome. While the movement is centred around the racial profiling of black people by the police in the US, how are the same institutional bias affecting people of colour in the outdoors? The role of government in shaping or destroying the culture of black people and how black people ultimately interact with nature cannot be understated.
Appointment of AFC Advisory Board
May 22, 2020
AFC Advisory Board consists of experts in non-profit sector, philanthropy, fundraising, business and social development, governance and academia. They serve as ambassadors and advocates, as well as providing strategic advise and oversight that can assist AFC with their strategic and compliance objectives for 2020 - 2022 period.
Effects of COVID-19 on high altitude mountaineers
Apr 1, 2020
High altitude mountaineers typically pursue their sport in remote locations away from civilisation, but they couldn't escape the fallout of COVID-19 that caused travel restrictions and spurred quarantines around the world. We had a chat with one of our members Tumi Mphahlele about what this means for her. Tumi was part of the first South African women's team due to attempt Mt Everest in April. The expedition was suspended due COVID-19 pandemic.