WATCH: Zoleka Mandela’s life honoured

Author and activist Zoleka Mandela is being honoured at a memorial service at the Mandela family home on Thursday.

Mandela passed away on Monday after a long battle with cancer. 

In a statement on Tuesday, the family confirmed that the 43-year-old succumbed on Monday evening.


“Recent scans revealed significant disease progression including fibrosis in the lungs as well as several emboli,” read the statement.

In 2022, Mandela announced that her cancer had returned and began treatment for the cancer in her liver, ribs, spinal cord, hips and lungs.

The author, who documented her 10-year breast cancer journey in an autobiography, When Hope Whispers, and known as a cancer survivor, took to Instagram to announce the doctors’ reports after her oncologist performed a CAT scan.

“The CAT scan has revealed cancer both in my liver and lungs. I am yet to receive feedback regarding my bone scan, to establish whether I have cancer beyond my ribs. I am hanging on by a thread. Thanking you all for your outpouring of love, prayer and support. Peace. Passion. Positivity.” she wrote at the time. 

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