FROM the dusty streets of Mabopane township to space - Mandla Maseko will see his dream being realised in 2015.
The 25-year-old aspiring DJ beat hundreds of local entrants in theUnilever fragrance Axe's competition to win an hour-long trip to space in the Lynx Mark 2 shuttle, owned by Dutch space tourism company Space Expedition Corporation.
Maseko will join Mark Shuttleworth as the second South African to visit space.
"I haven't been so excited about anything in my life," he said. "To think I almost gave up on entering the competition."
He was one of three South Africans who won a chance to visit the US Axe Apollo Space Academy this month, where 109 contestants from around the world competed for 23 tickets aboard the spacecraft.
All went through a gruelling week of training . Among the judges were five astronauts, including the second man to walk on the moon, Buzz Aldrin .
"When judging the competitors, I was looking for enthusiasm, ability to work with others and knowledge of space travel," said Aldrin.
On arrival in the US on December 2, the three South Africans, Maseko, Dean Roddan and Haroon Osman, were taken to a camp near the Kennedy Space Center.
In a series of tests, they were subjected to a gravity force of 4.4 and had to complete a day-long obstacle course. They all finished in the top 10.
"I came first in the obstacle course because running is my strongest ability," said Maseko.
On the morning of the winners' graduation, they heard of Nelson Mandela's death. The contestants and judges held a moment's silence, and Aldrin remarked that it was the "saddest day for the world".
Because of Mandela's passing, Maseko's achievement needed to be kept secret to "show the necessary respect", according to the sponsors.
"Keeping this from my family, friends and the country was the hardest thing ever. My mother asked me what happened, but I couldn't tell her," said Maseko.
"I know she will be so happy to finally hear the news that her son is going to space."
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