Zoleka Mandela

Zoleka Zobuhle Mandela
Mandela in 2015
Born	(1980-04-09)9 April 1980 Johannesburg, South Africa
Died	25 September 2023(2023-09-25) (aged 43) Johannesburg, South Africa
Nationality	South African
Children	6 (2 deceased)
Relatives	Nelson Mandela (grandfather) Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (grandmother)

Zoleka Mandela (9 April 1980 – 25 September 2023) 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.

Life and activism

Zoleka Zobuhle Mandela was born on 9 April 1980 to Zindziswa Mandela and Oupa Johannes Seakamela, a Northern Sotho man from Limpopo. She was conceived at her mother's childhood home which is now a museum in Soweto, her grandmother Winnie Mandela was exiled to Brandfort at the time. She had three younger maternal half-brothers, Zondwa, Bambatha and Zwelabo. 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 spoke about sexual abuse in her childhood allegedly from Mike Seakamela, Mandla Mandela and AbaThembu king Buyelekhaya Dalinyebo. She was also addicted to drugs and alcohol for a time in her youth.

On 11 June 2010, Mandela's 13-year-old daughter, Zenani Zanethemba Nomasonto Mandela (b. 7 June 1997) was killed in a car crash on the way home from a 2010 FIFA World Cup concert. The accident occured when the chauffeur of the vehicle carrying Zenani was hit by a drunk driver, she was the only fatality. Zoleka at the time, was recovering from a suicide attempt in hospital. She was described as being "devastated" by the incident. Mandela published her autobiography "When Hope Whispers" in 2013. She lost her infant son, Zenawe Zibuyile Mandela in 2011 who was born prematurely.

Zoleka has a son Zwelami Mandela (b.2003) and was married once to Thierry Bashala, they later divorced and had two daughters, Zanyiwe (b.2014) and Zenzile (b.2019). Her youngest daughter, Zingce (b. April 2022) is farthered by her former boyfriend Andile Cana.

Mandela campaigned against deaths caused by road accidents noting the particular hazards affecting sub-Saharan African children who are twice as likely to be killed in car accidents as children anywhere else in the world.

Illness and death

Mandela was treated for breast cancer in 2011, which returned in 2016. She used social media to describe the removed tumour and side effects of her chemotherapy treatment.

In the months leading to her death, Mandela drafted her will and planned her memorial and funeral service which included a list of prominent family members excluded from attending. Mandela died from terminal cancer on 25 September 2023, at the age of 43. She was not buried at Fourways Memorial Park in Johannesburg alongside her mother, grandmother and children as she had requested because during the burial, her aunt Zenani Mandela-Dlamini arrived with the South African Police Service to enforce a court interdict to have her late niece buried elsewhere at a gravesite purchased by her ex-husband, Thierry Bashala. The event has caused divisions within the family.

Honours

In 2016, she was chosen as one of the BBC's "100 Women". She noted that her big regret was that she felt that she had only done worthwhile things after her grandfather's death, not while he was alive.

Bibliography

• Mandela, Zoleka (14 April 2014). When Hope Whispers. Johannesburg: Jacana Media. ISBN 9781431409044.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link)