Zoleka Mandela, a granddaughter of Nelson Mandela has died. She was 43.
Her death on Monday was announced by the Mandela family in a statement on Tuesday.
Who was Zoleka Mandela?
Zoleka Mandela was a South African writer, activist, and Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter. She wrote about her addictions, her daughter’s death, and her own battles with breast cancer.
Zoleka was born on 9 April 1980, and was the daughter of Zindzi Mandela and her first husband Zwelibanzi Hlongwane.
Her mother’s family, the Mandelas, are direct descendants of King Madiba of the Thembu people and serve as chieftains of Mvezo, their ancestral chiefdom.
Mandela’s early story was a series of struggles and tragedies that were almost too much for one person.
They were set against her self-confessed attempt and initial failure to live up to the example of her grandfather, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, the leader of the anti-apartheid movement, the first Black president of South Africa and a powerful force for good recognized and admired across the globe.
Mandela suffered s3xual abuse as a child and battled drug and alcohol addiction from her teenage years.
Her 13-year-old daughter, Zenani, was killed in a car crash in 2010 on the way back from a concert that marked the opening of the soccer World Cup in South Africa.
It was caused by a drunk driver and came when Zoleka, herself, was deep in her drug and alcohol addiction and in a hospital having attempted suicide.
Following her daughter’s death, she started a road safety campaign called the Long Short Walk.
“I hadn´t seen my daughter for 10 days before her passing, and I hadn´t because I chose to use drugs,” Mandela said in an interview with The Associated Press in 2013. “That´s obviously a reminder that I chose my addiction over my kids and I have to live with that for the rest of my life.”
The horror and guilt jarred her into seeking help and going into rehab for the good of her other child at the time, son Zwelami, and the memory of her daughter Zenani, she said. Zenani’s death brought a frail-looking Nelson Mandela out to a church for his great-granddaughter’s funeral and one of his last public appearances.
Mandela was diagnosed with breast cancer barely a year after her daughter’s death, leading to a double mastectomy and grueling chemotherapy.
Her second son was born prematurely in 2011 while she was being treated for cancer and died days later. She had four surviving children at the time of her death.
Was Zoleka Mandela married ?
Zoleka Mandela who was born on 9th April 1980 was once married and hence had a husband.
Who was Zoleka Mandela married to?
She was married to Thierry Bashala. Zoleka met her husband, Thierry Bashala, in 2012 and dated for two years before tying the knot in 2014.
Unfortunately, they finalised their divorce in 2020. After the end of her marriage, Zobuhle never publicly introduced anyone as her significant other.
Zoleka Mandela children
Zoleka Mandela had six children, although two of them died. Her eldest daughter, Zenani, was born in 1997. Zwelami Mandela, her eldest son, was born on 21st November 2002.
Zanyiwe Zenziwe Bashala is the second oldest daughter and was born in 2014. Zenzile Motuba Bashala, the third daughter, was born in 2019 despite her mother’s oncologist warning her against siring kids due to her cancer. Zingce Zobuhle Mandela, the youngest, was born in 2022.
Zenani died in 2010 in a car crash while on her way home from the 2010 World Cup opening ceremony in Johannesburg. Zenani was only thirteen when she died. Zenawe died in 2011 as an infant due to complications related to premature birth.
Zoleka’s fans knew her for being a doting mother to her kids, especially since she often expressed her love for them on social media platforms. She often shared touching tributes to her deceased children on their death anniversaries.
Who is Zoleka Mandela husband Thierry Bashala?
Thierry Bashala is also the CEO of YOOPI. Thierry met Zoleka Mandela in 2012 at a clothing store.
The two dated for two years before getting married in 2014. Their love really felt like a fairy tale. The couple were married for 6 years.
In 2020, they decided to get their separate ways. They have two beautiful daughters together. Their names are Zanyiwe and Zenzile Bashala.
Zoleka Mandela’s baby fathers
She was only married once and had two kids in her first marriage. She did not disclose who her baby’s fathers are.
In 2021, she shared a photo of herself with Leeroy Andile Cana, her then-lover. She later announced her pregnancy, although at the time of her child’s birth, they had already broken up.
When did Zoleka Mandela die?
According to the family’s spokesperson, Zoleka Mandela passed on on Monday, 25th September 2023, surrounded by her family and close friends.
Zoleka Mandela illness
Zoleka Mandela was diagnosed with breast cancer at 32 years old. She received treatment and was in remission, although the illness returned later. In 2022, she confirmed that the disease had metastasised to her liver, lungs and other organs.
In an interview, she expressed her worries about losing the battle to the disease and was more concerned about her kids. In an interview with Kaya FM, she mentioned that she was learning to be okay with her eventuality.
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