Andile Leeroy Cana, a painter, creative strategist, and the father of Zoleka Mandela‘s last-born child, has been facing criticism and scrutiny on social media following Zoleka’s death from cancer. Zoleka Mandela, an activist and author, had listed Andile in her diary as one of the people she wished to be excluded from her funeral. Andile respected her wishes and did not attend the funeral, choosing to mourn privately at home.

Zoleka Mandela’s diary listed Cana as one of the individuals she wished to be excluded from her funeral, along with Mandla Mandela, Zenani Mandela-Dlamini, and King Buyelekhaya Danlindyebo, among others. Respecting the wishes of the late mother of his child, Cana stayed away from the funeral, which took place on September 30 at Bryanston Methodist Church.

 

Making it to ‘the list’ broke his heart. “I know things were not perfect between us before her passing, but she had allowed me to see our child and we were trying to mend things,” he says, adding, “Sometimes relationships don’t work out. I don’t believe she hated me, but I still think she was hurt when we separated. I was hoping to mend things, but I guess God had other plans and took her away.”

Andile and Zoleka initially met through Instagram when a friend suggested that Andile create a tribute jacket for Zoleka due to her cancer battle and activism work. Their collaboration led to a deeper connection, and they fell in love. However, Andile acknowledges that their relationship had its challenges, and they were in the process of trying to mend things before Zoleka’s passing.