Renowned South African author, activist, and heiress to the Mandela family, Zoleka Mandela welcomed a new baby Mandela a day before turning 41, on Friday, the 8th of April. The 42-year-old granddaughter of the late Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela Mandela shared this exciting news on her personal Instagram page as she welcomed her sixth child - a daughter named Zingce Zobuhle Mandela.
The writer, although given her family background, has not always had it easy. She’s been public with her battle against breast cancer over the years, opened up in her 2013 autobiography about sexual abuse during her childhood, drug and alcohol addiction, the loss of her infant son and teenage daughter a year apart, and recovering from suicide attempts but here she is rising and growing stronger.
Zoleka is now a mother of 6 children. Tragically, only 4 are alive, her newborn daughter, Zingce, an older son whom she calls her King, Zwelami, and two older daughters Zanyiwe and Zenzile.
In 2011, the two-time breast cancer survivor lost her infant son Zenawe, and in 2010 her 13-year-old daughter Zenani died from a car accident.
She first shared the news of pregnancy, which came to her as a surprise as she initially thought she had food poisoning on Instagram last year. Zoleka wrote a caption in a post, “Dear Diary, so like… I thought I had food poisoning, turns out I was pregnant with my 6th child. New hashtag loading… #42YrOldMotherOf6 but for now, #41YrOldMotherOf6.”
The When Hope Whispers author’s baby’s also announced the birth of her daughter Zingce on the day with the Instagram caption, “08.04.2022. Dear Diary, this morning (11:10) I gave birth to my daughter, Zingce Zobuhle Mandela… A day before my 42nd birthday!!! To my daughter… We did it, baby… Just me and you, thank you for choosing me as your MOM!!! #BabyZingce#ZingceMandela#ZolekaMandela#41YrOldMotherOf6”
As much as social media users have shamed her for having what society deems as a lot of kids and at her age, she has continued to document and journal her life online where she has also mentioned that this will be her last child.
“Dear Diary, in 2023 and not this year because I’m giving birth to my very last baby for the rest of my life. I’m serious, it’s not funny and I don’t know why you’re laughing about it! Anyway, as I was saying, by the time I turn 43 in April 2023, I’m going to look and feel even better than what I looked like in this video (where I made the decision to be very single). I took in 2020, dawg. I also don’t want a man in my life because the moment I fall in love, weight gain, and pregnancy same time, my n*gga!” She added, “I just don’t know how I’m going to cope without the sexual benefits of having a man because I don’t want the relationship per se, but I want the part where he comes over when I tell him to; without him spending the night, without him being with anyone else or bothering me with feelings because that’s just not in my DNA anymore.”
She is getting professional psychological help in dealing with her personal and emotional issues though.
“I’m in therapy for this because the therapist says I clearly have so many issues to work through because just WTF is wrong with me?”
Zoleka has also mentioned during her pregnancy that she’s much happier than before and feels like she’s truly adulting.
