10 Interesting Facts You May Not Have Known About the Late Zoleka Mandela

10 Interesting Facts You May Not Have Known About the Late Zoleka Mandela. Her death has touched many in South Africa and beyond. Zoleka Mandela is well known as the granddaughter of Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. There is however, more about her than her famous surname.

1. Zoleka Mandela was born on 9 April 1980, and was the daughter of Zindzi Mandela and Zwelibanzi Hlongwane.

2. She is one individual who has been though the most, including sexual abuse in her childhood. Zoleka was also addicted to drugs and alcohol back in the day.

3. In 2010, her 13-year-old daughter, Zenani Mandela, was killed in a car crash on the way home from a concert. At the time, Zoleka was recovering from a suicide attempt.

4. The following year, 2011, her son Zenawe Zibuyile passed away in 2011 at infancy. Zoleka always paid tribute to her kids on their birthdays.

5. In the same year of Zenawe’s passing, Zoleka was treated for breast cancer, which sadly returned in 2016. She has always been vocal on social media about the disease.

6. Despite it all, Zoleka managed to publish her autobiography in 2013, titled When Hope Whispers.

7. One of her major achievements was being chosen as one of the BBC’s “100 Women”. Zoleka noted that her big regret was doing worthwhile things only after her grandfather’s death.

8. Zoleka lost her mother Zindzi Mandela in 2020. To deal with the pain, she painted and sold beautiful canvas shoes.

9. In August 2022 Zoleka was diagnosed with bone metastasis. The cancer eventually spread to her lungs, liver, ribs, spinal cord and hips.

10. She lost the battle on 25 September 2023, at the age of 43. Zoleka is survived by four children and siblings.