Ms Mandela passed away on Monday (Picture: Getty)
Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter Zoleka Mandela has died after a battle with cancer, her family have said.
She passed away on Monday evening surrounded by friends and family, a spokesperson said.
Ms Mandela, 43, had become well known for detailing her cancer treatment, and she was also open about her history of drug addiction.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation said her work was inspirational.
It said that she raised ‘awareness about cancer prevention’ as well as ‘breaking down the stigma surrounding the disease’.
She died after a long battle with cancer (Picture: Getty)
Tributes have been paid to Ms Mandela who was praised for breaking down the stigma of cancer (Picture: Getty)
‘Zoleka passed away… surrounded by friends and family,’ said Zwelabo Mandela.
She was the child of Mandela’s youngest daughter, Zindzi Mandela, and her first husband, Zwelibanzi Hlongwane.
The family said recent scans revealed ‘significant’ progress in the cancer that affected her hip, liver, lung, pelvis, brain and spinal cord.
They said in a statement: ‘We mourn the loss of a beloved grandchild of Mum Winnie and Madiba,’ the Nelson Mandela Foundation wrote on social media, using the name by which the Nobel Peace Prize laureate was fondly known.
‘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.’
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