Zoleka Mandela dies after a lengthy battle with cancer at age 43
The family of Zoleka Mandela have confirmed through a family statement the passing of the 43-year-old on Monday evening. The author and activist died after a lengthy battle with cancer, and is said to have passed on with family and friends surrounding her.
Over the years, Zoleka had fought breast cancer twice and now was being treated for metastatic cancer to the hip, liver, lung, pelvis, brain and spinal cord.
“Recent scans revealed significant disease progression including fibrosis in the lungs as well several emboli,” the statement read.
She lived a bold life, retelling her life story through books where she wrote about her addictions, her daughter’s death – 13-year-old Zenani who was killed in a car crash on the way home from a concert, and her battles with breast cancer.
She was the granddaughter of anti-apartheid heroes Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela Mandela, and leaves behind her four children including all those that loved ones.
And as the world reels in shock, many took to X (twitter) to express their sadness.
