Zoleka Mandela was an outspoken writer and activist for healthcare and justice
Author and activist Zoleka Mandela, granddaughter of South Africa’s first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, has died of cancer at the age of 43. BBC reported. Zoleka died on Monday evening, September 25, surrounded by friends and family. Our sincere thanks to the medical team who cared for her,” read the statement on her official Instagram account.
According to the statement, she was “hospitalized for ongoing treatment of metastatic cancer of the hip, liver, lung, pelvis, brain and spinal cord.”
“Recent scans revealed significant disease progression, including fibrosis in the lungs and several emboli,” the statement said.
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Zoleka Mandela, born on April 9, 1980, was an outspoken writer and activist for healthcare and justice throughout her life. She was the grandchild of Nelson Mandela and his second wife, Winnie Mandela. Her activism also included road safety campaigns after her 13-year-old daughter, Zenani, died in a car accident in 2010. She leaves behind four children.
Mrs Mandela had also documented her cancer treatment in recent years, and was open about childhood sexual abuse and drug addiction. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32 and underwent treatment including a double mastectomy, but the cancer returned in 2016.
“What do I tell my children? How do I tell them that I might not live my life as a survivor this time? How do I tell them that everything will be okay, when it won’t be? I’m dying… I don’t want to die” , she wrote on Instagram in August 2022.
”The Nelson Mandela Foundation extends its sincere condolences to the Mandela family on the tragic death of Zoleka Mandela last night. We mourn the loss of a beloved grandchild of Mama Winnie and Madiba and a friend of the Foundation,” the Nelson Mandela Foundation said in a statement on Tuesday morning.
”Her work in raising awareness of cancer prevention and her continued commitment to breaking the stigma surrounding the disease will continue to inspire us all,” it added.
Notably, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was the former President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. Mr. Mandela is widely regarded as a leader of social justice and a staunch advocate for democracy. He opposed the racist apartheid system in South Africa and dedicated his life to achieving social equality for all. For his extensive work in social reform, he received more than 250 awards and was awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
