Zoleka Mandela was diagnosed with cancer in her lungs, liver, ribs, spinal cord, brain, and hips after surviving breast cancer twice.
South Africans are remembering cancer fighter Zoleka Mandela, who died on Monday, September 25, at the age of 43.
The novelist and activist, the granddaughter of late South African former President Nelson Mandela and ANC stalwart Winnie Madikizela Mandela, disclosed in August last year that she had cancer in her lungs, liver, ribs, spinal cord, and hips.She had previously been diagnosed with and successfully treated breast cancer twice.
She leaves behind her four children: three daughters and one son. Netizens, who admire Zoleka’s resilience, are paying tribute.
Not only did she beat breast cancer twice, but in her 2013 biography, When Hope Whispers, Zoleka opens up about her drug addiction and being sexually and physically abused as a 4-year-old up until her teens. She also lost her eldest daughter, Zenani, in a car accident in 2010. A year later, she lost another child, her infant son, Zenawe, who was born three months prematurely.
@Leratomabuza wrote: “Rest In Peace Zoleka Mandela 💔🙏You really fought my love. God knows you gave it your all to be alive. You Lived, Cared & Loved. Your children lost a loving compassionate Mom, but they gained a Guardian Angel.”
“Zoleka Mandela fought so much. She instilled hope in most of us & taught us not to ever give up even if the end is near. What an inspiration she was. I will definitely remember her resilience and gratitude. May her soul rest in peace. Condolences to the friends and families,” wrote @innomatijane on X (formerly Twitter).
“Zoleka Mandela’s story was so gruesome. She was in constant battle for most of her life. Fighting an addiction, losing her daughter to a drunk driver, fighting cancer, only for the cancer to come back May her soul rest in eternal peace,” @somuhleomuhle said.
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