South African author and activist, Zoleka Mandela (the granddaughter of the late and former president Nelson Mandela and his second wife, anti-apartheid activist Winnie Mandela) died on Monday, 25 September. A prominent group of ministers, celebrities, and extended family members gathered at the Mandela family home in Orlando West, Soweto to mourn with the family.

RIP ZOLEKA MANDELA: LINDIWE SISULU REVEALS SHE IS BATTLING CANCER
Zoleka Mandela kept diaries on her social media page as she journalised her battle with cancer. She battled the disease for the past 11 years until Monday when she passed away. Former Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Lindiwe Sisulu took to the podium and revealed she has also been battling with the cancer disease.

“Traditionally speaking Zoleka is my niece, and I was asked to come forward today by her cousins, I understand why they asked me. I live with cancer myself and perhaps they thought I would be able to carry the message. Zoleka was a survivor and her story serves as a testimony of a human spirit fighting against life’s challenges,” ZiMoja quoted Sisulu as saying.

A statement released on Tuesday, 26 September announced that Zoleka (43) died surrounded by her loved ones after she was admitted to the hospital for her ongoing treatment for metastatic cancer to the hip, liver, lung, pelvis, brain, and spinal cord.

MORE ABOUT THE LATE PUBLIC FIGURE
In her last Instagram post shared on 17 September, Zoleka Mandela opened up about having suffered from severe chest pains. And, after having gone for a CT Scan, it was discovered that she also had blood clots and Fibrosis in her lungs. Her funeral is currently held at the Bryanston Methodist Church in Johannesburg today. And, she will be taken to her final resting place privately by the Mandela family.