Zoleka Mandela, the granddaughter of former South African President Nelson Mandela, died of cancer at the age of 43, according to a family statement released on Tuesday.
“Zoleka passed away on the evening of Monday, September 25th, surrounded by friends and family,” the statement, shared on her official Instagram account, said.
Zoleka Mandela was born on April 9, 1980, and she was a writer and activist who cared deeply about healthcare and justice. She used her voice to speak out about these issues and make a difference in the world.
A message on her Instagram page said that Ms. Mandela was hospitalized on September 18 for treatment of metastatic cancer, which had spread to her hip, liver, lung, pelvis, brain, and spinal cord. Recent scans showed that the cancer had progressed significantly, with fibrosis in her lungs and several emboli.
Ms Mandela had widely documented her cancer treatment in recent years, as well as discussed her experiences of childhood sexual abuse, and shared her struggles with drug addiction. She was initially diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32, and although she went into remission, the illness unfortunately returned later. She was also a road safety campaigner a cause she championed after her 13-year-old daughter tragically lost her life in a car accident in 2010.
Last year, she was diagnosed with cancer in her liver and lungs. It then spread to other organs. She was being treated at home but was admitted to the hospital just over a week ago.
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