Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter Zoleka Mandela dies of cancer aged 43
Zoleka Mandela, the granddaughter of Nelson Mandela, the first democratically elected President of South Africa, has sadly succumbed to cancer at the age of 43.
According to a spokesperson, she peacefully departed on Monday evening, with loved ones and friends by her side.
In recent times, Ms. Mandela gained recognition for her candid accounts of her battle against cancer, bravely sharing her experiences. Additionally, she remained transparent about her past struggles with drug addiction.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation expressed deep admiration for her impactful contributions, deeming her work truly inspirational.
It has been reported that Ms. Mandela was a vocal advocate for cancer prevention and worked to eliminate the stigma surrounding the disease. She also bravely shared her personal struggles with depression and childhood sexual abuse. Furthermore, she actively campaigned for improved road safety measures following the tragic loss of her 13-year-old daughter in a car accident in 2010. Sadly, Ms. Mandela also experienced the loss of a son who was born prematurely.
She is survived by four children. As the granddaughter of Winnie Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s second wife, Ms. Mandela chronicled her journey in her autobiography, When Hope Whispers. At the age of 32, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent treatment, achieving remission. However, the illness returned and last year she revealed that it had spread to her liver and lungs, as well as other organs. She had been receiving outpatient care but was admitted to the hospital just over a week ago.
“What do I tell my children? How do I tell them that this time around I may not get to live my life as a survivor? How do I tell them everything will be OK when it’s not? I’m dying… I don’t want to die,” she posted on Instagram early last month.
During an interview with Kaya FM in April, Ms. Mandela expressed her acceptance of her eventual fate. Her candid revelations resonated with a wide audience on social media, where individuals have been paying their respects today.
“Utterly tragic loss of a human being in her grandfather’s footsteps. A decent, honest human being in a dishonest, hypocritical world,” one person on X, formerly Twitter, said.
“You were one of the bravest people I know and you inspired many people on your life’s journey of hope,” another person wrote on Instagram below the Mandela family’s announcement.
At the tender age of 10, she witnessed the long-awaited liberation of her grandfather in 1990, marking the end of his arduous 27-year confinement. Having solely experienced his presence within the confines of a prison, her heart brimmed with anticipation and elation as she eagerly awaited his homecoming.
