Although he was not able to complete the crossing due to the low water temperature and threat of hypothermia, he had completed more than half of the course when the cold forced him to give up the attempt. 

About Arafat

Arafat fled from his homeland, the Democratic Republic of Congo, in October 

2012 at the age of 17, leaving behind his parents and two of his siblings after the M23 troops entered their village.  

To this day, he remains hopeful of being reunited with his family .Marion Wagner, our director, was an enthusiastic volunteer swimming instructor at The Homestead – and ignited a spark that has turned into a burning commitment to the lure of open water. Ms Wagner clearly recalls the day in 2012 when she met Arafat at Long Street Baths and he asked if she could teach him butterfly. She recognised his ability and natural swimming style and he became her star pupil. It wasn’t long before she secured sponsorship for Arafat and he took to the cold waters of the Atlantic. After suffering hypothermia on his first attempt, he completed the 7.5km swim from Robben Island to Bloubergstrand in 2015, wearing only a standard swimsuit, swimming cap and goggles, in accordance with FINA open water swimming rules. He was named the 2014 Open Water Swimmer of the Year by the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association.

Arafat lives his life by a simple maxim: “My advice is that nothing is impossible if you want do it – you just have to put in the effort and focus on what you’re doing. The most important thing is to know what you want to achieve in your swimming which also applies to everything you do in life.”

Arriving in Cape Town after crossing five countries and covering approximately 3,400 km (2,112 miles), Arafat and his two cousins, who fled with him, were eventually relocated to The Homestead, a registered non-profit organisation helping street children reconstruct their shattered lives.