* CONTENT WARNING: This article contains detailed accounts of childhood sexual abuse, suicide attempts and mental-health crisis. Please read with care.
After cycling 13 400 km across Africa, to heal from childhood trauma, Maurice Edelson collapsed just 3 000 km from his Cape Town destination.
The 53-year-old from KwaZulu-Natal is now recovering in Somerset West, but his extraordinary journey began decades earlier with a devastating secret he carried for 43 years.
“Between age nine and 10 I was raped and molested,” he related. “I chose to keep it secret because I was concerned about what the community and my extended family would think. I was using my child brain at the time, which is emotional and illogical.”
Born in the 1970s when traditional notions of masculinity predominated, Edelson built what appeared to be a successful life after emigrating to the UK.
“I was what everybody wanted to see – successful. Yet I had this entire secret life in which I was broken, struggling, punishing myself.”
His inner turmoil led to two suicide attempts. After finally sharing his secret with a stranger in March last year, Edelson embarked on an unconventional healing journey. Starting from Guildford, England on 31 May 2025, he cycled through 18 countries along the west African coast.
Nine months into his journey cerebral malaria struck in the Republic of Congo last month (February). “I could feel my mind and body going, then I collapsed and was in a coma for two and a half days,” he recalled. “It absolutely sucked. I only had 3 000 km to go, and I felt as if I’d failed.”
Edelson flew to Cape Town earlier this month, meeting his mother Ingrid at the airport. He is now recovering at her Somerset West home.
His decision to abandon the final stretch was to protect his loved ones. “It wasn’t just about me, but the people around me. To put my family through that again and say I’m going to get back on and carry on riding felt selfish.”
Edelson wished to share his story across the Helderberg and help others overcome mental-health struggles.
His experience reflects a broader crisis affecting South African men.
Roshni Parbhoo-Seetha, project manager for education at the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag), said: “In South Africa men are far more likely to die by suicide than women. Women often reach out for help more, but men are less likely to seek support and often struggle in silence. Traditional ideas about masculinity can make it very difficult for men to speak about emotional pain. Many men are taught ‘boys don’t cry’ or ‘handle it yourself’.”
Despite the near-fatal setback Edelson doesn’t regret his journey, because it allowed him to confront his past. “For the first time since age nine I’m actually happy.”
His advice is simple but powerful: “You’ve got to share. The only way to heal is by breaking the silence.”
Help is available on the Sadag helplines on 0800 567 567 or SMS 31393.
Follow Edelson’s journey on LinkTree.
