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"title": "Zoleka Mandela laid to rest — a 'tireless fighter' who shared her breast cancer struggle to help others",
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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The country mourns the </span><a href=\"https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/mandelas-granddaughter-zoleka-dies-43-life-full-tragedy-103502503\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">passing of Zoleka Mandela</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, author and granddaughter of South Africa’s iconic leader Nelson Mandela. She succumbed to cancer at the age of 43.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surrounded by loved ones on the evening of September 25, she finally lost her battle with metastatic cancer, a disease that had spread to her hip, liver, lung, pelvis, brain, and spinal cord. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The announcement of her untimely departure was made by the Mandela family and the </span><a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CxpWRzMIQ6F/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nelson Mandela Foundation</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which hailed her as a “tireless activist for healthcare and justice”. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Her work in raising awareness about cancer prevention and her unwavering commitment to breaking down the stigma surrounding the disease will continue to inspire us all,” read the statement. </span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1874832\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ED_468793.jpg\" alt=\"Mourners walk past a portrait of Zoleka Mandela\" width=\"720\" height=\"428\" /> <em>Mourners walk past a portrait of Zoleka Mandela during a memorial service at the Mandela family home on 28 September 28. (Photo: Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32, she initially achieved remission only to face a resurgence of the disease in her liver, lungs, and other vital organs. Through her candid Instagram updates and a </span><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@ZolekaMandelaTF\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">YouTube channel</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Mandela shared her profound belief in the human spirit’s ability to fight against terminal cancer and updated followers of her health journey. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In one of her Instagram posts, she posted a picture of cooked chicken meat and captioned it: “16.08.2023 – Dear Diary! Guess who was able to cook an entire meal for her family today? MOI!!! I can barely taste anything due to Chemo, but I think I nailed it, if the empty plates and seconds (some) had are anything to go by! Today’s highlight!!! Peace. Passion. Positivity. #TerminallyFree.”</span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[Embed this: </span><a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CwA9TtjtP5E/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zoleka Zobuhle Mandela (@zolekamandela) • Instagram photos and videos</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">]</span>\r\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CwA9TtjtP5E/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\r\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\r\n\r\n \r\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\r\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\r\n<div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\r\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n \r\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CwA9TtjtP5E/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Zoleka Zobuhle Mandela (@zolekamandela)</a></p>\r\n\r\n</div></blockquote>\r\n<script async src=\"//www.instagram.com/embed.js\"></script>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In another post, she posted a video of herself after running an errand, captioning it as follows: “20.06.2023 – Dear Diary! Guess who was up and about today? Don’t laugh!!! Today’s HIGHLIGHT was being able to run an errand and I did, I felt like such a normal person and can’t quite explain the excitement and accomplishment I feel but YAY, okay? I’m beaming.”</span>\r\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/CttzKQ-Mnlj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\r\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\r\n\r\n \r\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\r\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\r\n<div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\r\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n \r\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/CttzKQ-Mnlj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Zoleka Zobuhle Mandela (@zolekamandela)</a></p>\r\n\r\n</div></blockquote>\r\n<script async src=\"//www.instagram.com/embed.js\"></script>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beyond her battle with cancer, Mandela emerged as an outspoken advocate for a multitude of causes. Tragically, she </span><a href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jun/11/nelson-mandela-great-granddaughter-killed\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lost her 13-year-old daughter, Zenani, in a car accident in 2010</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a traumatic event that prompted her to become a passionate advocate for road safety to eradicate child death on the road. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She also </span><a href=\"https://people.com/zoleka-mandela-dies-cancer-7974736\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shared her past struggles with depression</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and her painful history of childhood sexual abuse, breaking down the walls of silence and stigma that often surround these issues. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2013, Zoleka Mandela released her autobiography, </span><a href=\"https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19464766-when-hope-whispers\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When Hope Whispers</span></i></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> — a deeply personal account that delved into the painful circumstances of her life. Her childhood was deeply affected by South Africa’s apartheid era, during which her grandfather was incarcerated on Robben Island and her family were caught in the grips of state harassment and hardship. </span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1874841\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ED_468821.jpg\" alt=\"memorial service of Zoleka Mandela\" width=\"720\" height=\"426\" /> <em>Friends and family at the memorial service of Zoleka Mandela. (Photo: Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zodwa Zwane, the late Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s previous personal assistant, </span><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl_pWWHLP-I\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remembered Zoleka Mandela</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as a strong young lady who greatly loved her family. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Zoleka was very strong. It is one of the things that made the family understand cancer. More than anything, Zoleka understood her disease. She was one of those patients who asked questions so she could teach others. She was able to be strong for everyone. Zoleka was a very loving person and if she loved you, you would feel her presence. She was a fighter in everything. She loved her family, especially her children.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zwane described her as a dynamic young woman who found her voice outside her family surname by helping cancer patients and road accident victims. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Whatever pain she went through, she used it as a stepping ladder. She would make it a point that out of it, she teaches people about it,” said Zwane. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) shared their deepest condolences with the children, family, and friends of Mandela. Cansa released a statement on their </span><a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/cancerassociationofsouthafrica/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instagram account</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, remembering her as a “remarkable woman who was determined to share her breast cancer story so that others can be inspired by her”.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1874839\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ED_468811.jpg\" alt=\"Zoleka Mandela memorial service\" width=\"720\" height=\"417\" /> Friends and family mourn Zoleka Mandela at her memorial service. (Photo: Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The statement continued, “Despite living with the challenges of #MetastaticBreastCancer, Zoleka created a platform to raise awareness about women with cancer in middle to low-income countries. As an activist, she supported our women’s health campaign by sharing her story at our events such as Cuppa For Cansa and also supported Cansa Shavathon by spraying her hair”.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“She aimed to share her diagnosis to reach others so that they can in some way, benefit from her personal experiences and the reality of living with breast cancer. Zoleka saw the opportunity of sharing her story within the cancer community, to effect change and to bring hope. She prompted early detection and encouraged screening early for cancer and wrote a book during her time of chemotherapy, </span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When Hope Whispers</span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cansa told <em>Daily Maverick</em> that she “was special and kind and also gave proceeds of the sale of her book to Cansa towards our Women’s Health programmes to promote awareness of breast and cervical cancer”.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Her brother, Zwelabo Mandela, </span><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuSqE4ATCmc\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">said</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> he hopes to inherit her strength and approach to life. He called her a relatable human who was “always open, always vulnerable”. He said the person people saw online was the same Zoleka Mandela her family knew and loved. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mandela was due to be buried privately at Fourways Memorial Park on Friday after a service at the Bryanston Methodist Church. </span><b>DM</b>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1874831\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ED_468785.jpg\" alt=\"mural of Zoleka Mandela\" width=\"720\" height=\"458\" /> <em>A mural of Zoleka Mandela is painted at the Mandela family home on 28 September 28, 2023 in Soweto, South Africa. (Photo: Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)</em></p>",
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"name": "A mural of Zoleka Mandela is painted at the Mandela family home on 28 September 28, 2023 in Soweto, South Africa. (Photo: Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)",
"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The country mourns the </span><a href=\"https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/mandelas-granddaughter-zoleka-dies-43-life-full-tragedy-103502503\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">passing of Zoleka Mandela</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, author and granddaughter of South Africa’s iconic leader Nelson Mandela. She succumbed to cancer at the age of 43.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surrounded by loved ones on the evening of September 25, she finally lost her battle with metastatic cancer, a disease that had spread to her hip, liver, lung, pelvis, brain, and spinal cord. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The announcement of her untimely departure was made by the Mandela family and the </span><a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CxpWRzMIQ6F/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nelson Mandela Foundation</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which hailed her as a “tireless activist for healthcare and justice”. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Her work in raising awareness about cancer prevention and her unwavering commitment to breaking down the stigma surrounding the disease will continue to inspire us all,” read the statement. </span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1874832\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1874832\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ED_468793.jpg\" alt=\"Mourners walk past a portrait of Zoleka Mandela\" width=\"720\" height=\"428\" /> <em>Mourners walk past a portrait of Zoleka Mandela during a memorial service at the Mandela family home on 28 September 28. (Photo: Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32, she initially achieved remission only to face a resurgence of the disease in her liver, lungs, and other vital organs. Through her candid Instagram updates and a </span><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@ZolekaMandelaTF\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">YouTube channel</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Mandela shared her profound belief in the human spirit’s ability to fight against terminal cancer and updated followers of her health journey. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In one of her Instagram posts, she posted a picture of cooked chicken meat and captioned it: “16.08.2023 – Dear Diary! Guess who was able to cook an entire meal for her family today? MOI!!! I can barely taste anything due to Chemo, but I think I nailed it, if the empty plates and seconds (some) had are anything to go by! Today’s highlight!!! Peace. Passion. Positivity. #TerminallyFree.”</span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[Embed this: </span><a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CwA9TtjtP5E/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zoleka Zobuhle Mandela (@zolekamandela) • Instagram photos and videos</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">]</span>\r\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CwA9TtjtP5E/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\r\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\r\n\r\n \r\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\r\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\r\n<div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\r\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n \r\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CwA9TtjtP5E/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Zoleka Zobuhle Mandela (@zolekamandela)</a></p>\r\n\r\n</div></blockquote>\r\n<script async src=\"//www.instagram.com/embed.js\"></script>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In another post, she posted a video of herself after running an errand, captioning it as follows: “20.06.2023 – Dear Diary! Guess who was up and about today? Don’t laugh!!! Today’s HIGHLIGHT was being able to run an errand and I did, I felt like such a normal person and can’t quite explain the excitement and accomplishment I feel but YAY, okay? I’m beaming.”</span>\r\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/CttzKQ-Mnlj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\r\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\r\n\r\n \r\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\r\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\r\n<div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\r\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"></div>\r\n</div>\r\n \r\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/CttzKQ-Mnlj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Zoleka Zobuhle Mandela (@zolekamandela)</a></p>\r\n\r\n</div></blockquote>\r\n<script async src=\"//www.instagram.com/embed.js\"></script>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beyond her battle with cancer, Mandela emerged as an outspoken advocate for a multitude of causes. Tragically, she </span><a href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jun/11/nelson-mandela-great-granddaughter-killed\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lost her 13-year-old daughter, Zenani, in a car accident in 2010</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a traumatic event that prompted her to become a passionate advocate for road safety to eradicate child death on the road. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She also </span><a href=\"https://people.com/zoleka-mandela-dies-cancer-7974736\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shared her past struggles with depression</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and her painful history of childhood sexual abuse, breaking down the walls of silence and stigma that often surround these issues. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2013, Zoleka Mandela released her autobiography, </span><a href=\"https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19464766-when-hope-whispers\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When Hope Whispers</span></i></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> — a deeply personal account that delved into the painful circumstances of her life. Her childhood was deeply affected by South Africa’s apartheid era, during which her grandfather was incarcerated on Robben Island and her family were caught in the grips of state harassment and hardship. </span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1874841\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1874841\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ED_468821.jpg\" alt=\"memorial service of Zoleka Mandela\" width=\"720\" height=\"426\" /> <em>Friends and family at the memorial service of Zoleka Mandela. (Photo: Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zodwa Zwane, the late Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s previous personal assistant, </span><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl_pWWHLP-I\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remembered Zoleka Mandela</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as a strong young lady who greatly loved her family. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Zoleka was very strong. It is one of the things that made the family understand cancer. More than anything, Zoleka understood her disease. She was one of those patients who asked questions so she could teach others. She was able to be strong for everyone. Zoleka was a very loving person and if she loved you, you would feel her presence. She was a fighter in everything. She loved her family, especially her children.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zwane described her as a dynamic young woman who found her voice outside her family surname by helping cancer patients and road accident victims. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Whatever pain she went through, she used it as a stepping ladder. She would make it a point that out of it, she teaches people about it,” said Zwane. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) shared their deepest condolences with the children, family, and friends of Mandela. Cansa released a statement on their </span><a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/cancerassociationofsouthafrica/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instagram account</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, remembering her as a “remarkable woman who was determined to share her breast cancer story so that others can be inspired by her”.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1874839\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1874839\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ED_468811.jpg\" alt=\"Zoleka Mandela memorial service\" width=\"720\" height=\"417\" /> Friends and family mourn Zoleka Mandela at her memorial service. (Photo: Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The statement continued, “Despite living with the challenges of #MetastaticBreastCancer, Zoleka created a platform to raise awareness about women with cancer in middle to low-income countries. As an activist, she supported our women’s health campaign by sharing her story at our events such as Cuppa For Cansa and also supported Cansa Shavathon by spraying her hair”.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“She aimed to share her diagnosis to reach others so that they can in some way, benefit from her personal experiences and the reality of living with breast cancer. Zoleka saw the opportunity of sharing her story within the cancer community, to effect change and to bring hope. She prompted early detection and encouraged screening early for cancer and wrote a book during her time of chemotherapy, </span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When Hope Whispers</span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cansa told <em>Daily Maverick</em> that she “was special and kind and also gave proceeds of the sale of her book to Cansa towards our Women’s Health programmes to promote awareness of breast and cervical cancer”.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Her brother, Zwelabo Mandela, </span><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuSqE4ATCmc\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">said</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> he hopes to inherit her strength and approach to life. He called her a relatable human who was “always open, always vulnerable”. He said the person people saw online was the same Zoleka Mandela her family knew and loved. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mandela was due to be buried privately at Fourways Memorial Park on Friday after a service at the Bryanston Methodist Church. </span><b>DM</b>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1874831\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1874831\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ED_468785.jpg\" alt=\"mural of Zoleka Mandela\" width=\"720\" height=\"458\" /> <em>A mural of Zoleka Mandela is painted at the Mandela family home on 28 September 28, 2023 in Soweto, South Africa. (Photo: Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)</em>[/caption]",
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"summary": "Author Zoleka Mandela, the granddaughter of Nelson and Winnie Mandela, lost her life on Monday evening after a long and brave fight with cancer. Her family remembers her as a strong and loving individual who lived to help others. She was due to be laid to rest at the Fourways Memorial Park on Friday. ",
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Mourners walk past a portrait of Zoleka Mandela during a memorial service at the Mandela family home on 28 September 28. (Photo: Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)
Friends and family at the memorial service of Zoleka Mandela. (Photo: Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)
Friends and family mourn Zoleka Mandela at her memorial service. (Photo: Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)
A mural of Zoleka Mandela is painted at the Mandela family home on 28 September 28, 2023 in Soweto, South Africa. (Photo: Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)