Mandela family share details of the late Zoleka’s farewell services

by Bongiwe Mati

The Mandela family have shared details of the late Zoleka Mandela’s farewell service.

Zoleka succumbed to death on the eve of her grandmother Winnie Manela’s birthday, Monday (September 25) after battling from the return of cancer in the form of Metastatic cancer.

Zoleka had survived cancer twice before, after being first diagnosed with breast cancer over a decade ago. Informing the South African public of the farewell arrangements, the Mandela family shared the details on social media platforms including the late Zoleka’s social media pages.

They detailed:

“Zoleka Mandela’s farewell service.”

“Wednesday 27 September 2023, 18:00 – Prayers: Mandela Family Home. Soweto.”

“Thursday 28 September 2023, 15:00 Memorial Service: Mandela Family Home. Will be live streamed, and a link will be made available.”

“Friday 29 September 2023, 09:00 Funeral: Bryanston Methodist Church. Closed to the media.

In August 2022 Zoleka informed her social media followers of the third return of cancer. Through the months to come, she kept giving updates of her treatments and how they were making her feel. She also shared updates of her “65 million kids” and would look forward to getting back to them when away for treatments.

“23.08.2022 – I’ve had a sore back for more than a month now, and recently consulted with my GP when I could no longer tolerate the excruciating pain in my left rib. I went for an x-ray of my chest and rib a few days ago – I have a pathological fracture and swelling caused by cancer. My Medical Oncologist has scheduled me for a CT scan and bone scan, to determine whether I have cancer in the remaining parts of my body. From what she’s told me, cancer in the bones cannot be eradicated nor can it be cured. I have Bone Metastasis. I’ve just had my CT scan and awaiting my results, I don’t even have the words to articulate my thoughts and feelings, the words to describe how scared I am right now. What do I tell my children? How do I tell them that this time around, I may not get to live my life as a survivor? How do I tell them everything will be okay when it’s not? I’m dying … I don’t want to die.”

Also see: Joburg’s William Nicol Drive renamed Winnie Mandela Drive