Zoleka Mandela, the granddaughter of South Africa’s first democratically elected President Nelson Mandela, has passed away.
Zoleka died on Monday evening after a prolonged battle with cancer. She was 43.
“The Nelson Mandela Foundation extends its heartfelt condolences to the Mandela family on the passing of Zoleka Mandela, tragically last night,” the Nelson Mandela Foundation wrote in a statement released on Tuesday morning.
“We mourn the loss of a beloved grandchild of Mum Winnie and Madiba and a friend of the Foundation.”
A statement by her family said recent scans had revealed significant disease progression, including lung fibrosis and several emboli (blood clots).
“On Monday, September 18th, Zoleka Mandela was admitted into hospital for ongoing treatment for metastatic cancer to the hip, liver, lung, pelvis, brain and spinal cord,” the statement shared on her Instagram page reads.
“Recent scans revealed significant disease progression including fibrosis in the lungs as well as several emboli.
Zoleka was born on April 9, 1983, to father MJ Seakamela and mother Zindzi Mandela.
She was 10 when Mandela was released from prison in 1990 — after 27 years in detention.
Mandela passed away in 2013 at the age of 95.
