Barely six months after being diagnosed with cancer and losing a kidney, a Durban restaurateur conquered Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, in a brave show of endurance and determination.

Bala Gangiah, the founder of Indian cuisine restaurant Panaji and a retired project engineer, completed his feat in December 2018, and is now motivating others facing challenging life situations, using his self-published book What’s Your Kilimanjaro? as the basis for his talks.

“Nothing can motivate you more than having a second chance in life,” said the 57-year-old Durban North resident...