Robby Kojetin, who broke bones in both his feet in a fall while training to conquer Mount Everest, became the 17th South African to summit the world's highest peak this weekend.

His climbing companion, John Black, who reached the 8 848m summit shortly before him as part of a separate team, wrote on their blog: "Hi all. Breaking news: at 9.40am local time, Robby climbed the highest mountain in the world, and is now on his way back to Camp Four.

"Congratulations to Robby."

Before their ascent, the two had waited at Base Camp between exercises to acclimatise.

Kojetin undertook the climb to raise awareness of lymphoma and funds for the CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA, naming it his "Climb of Hope". - Sapa