Zoleka Mandela’s burial was marked by drama as her family fought for her body.
“There was drama here and they had already dug a grave for her next to her family, but the husband refused them to bury her there”
What was supposed to be a solemn and serene day turned out to be fraught with controversy as Zoleka Mandela was laid to rest.
Zoleka was not buried with her grandmother Winnie Madikizela-Mandela at the Fourways Memorial Park on Friday, as previously reported, because Zenani Mandela won a court injunction to prevent her from being buried at the Mandela site.
As a result, police were called to make sure that she was not buried next to her family.
Zoleka’s mother, Zindziswa Mandela, and her two children are also buried on the plot. Her 13-year-old daughter was killed in a car accident in 2010, and she later lost a son who was born prematurely.
According to a source who did not want to be recognized for fear of retaliation, Zoleka’s ex-husband, Thierry Bashala, purchased another burial for her at the memorial site.
“There was drama here, and they had already dug a grave for her next to her family, but the husband refused them to bury her there,” according to a source.
“They ended up burying her where the husband had planned, and the family ended up being divided.”
Sunday World watched the covering up of an empty grave, as well as the grave where she was placed to rest, away from her loving family.
A list that was published on social media on Friday allegedly mentioned the people that Zoleka did not want at her funeral, and Bashala was one of them.
The names in the diary entry included Leeroy Andie Cana, the father of her last born Zingce, some people from the Mandela and Madikizela family, Zenani Mandela Snr, Mandla Mandela, Zukiswa Madikizela, Nsundu Madikizela, and Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo.
Zoleka died on Monday of metastatic cancer that had progressed to her hip, liver, lung, pelvis, brain, and spinal cord.