Zoleka Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s beloved granddaughter takes a bow out the world at a young age of 43 due to cancer.
Zoleka Mandela was born on July 9, 1980, in Soweto, South Africa. She was the granddaughter of the iconic Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison for his role in fighting apartheid and later became the country’s first democratically elected president.
She is said to have died on Monday the 25th of September evening, surrounded by her beloved family members and friends. She was diagnosed of Breast cancer at the age of 32 and had since been receiving treatment. A statement from her family member revealed that she was later also diagnosed with liver and lungs cancers which had spread to the other organs.
During her life she was open about her health struggles and depressions; she documented her story in her book “When Hope Whispers” in the year 2013.
While alive, she was an ardent campaigner for cancer awareness and road safety. Her foundation named after her Grandfather recognizes her works as inspirational, as she was ultimately inspired continually by her father.
During her interview with the BBC in 2016, she was said “I just hope where he is with my daughter he is looking down and thinking she has gotten it right, finally.”
She is survived by four children as at the time of her death.
Her passing leaves a void in the hearts of many, but her legacy of resilience, activism, and determination will forever inspire generations to come.
