Baby daddy Andile Leeroy Cana is heartbroken after his former flame, the late author Zoleka Mandela, banned him from her funeral.
Zoleka Mandela succumbed to cancer on 25 September in her liver and lungs, which had metastasised and spread. After her 2022 diagnosis, doctors told her that she had no fighting chance this time, unlike the previous two times.
Because of her consciousness of her impending fate, Zoleka prepared everything to happen at her funeral and after her death to the dot. So painstaking was she that she compiled a list of over ten people who would not attend her funeral. This included her first baby daddy, some Mandela and Madikizela family members and Cana, the father of her last child.
ALSO READ: Zoleka Mandela’s Funeral Guest Exclusion List: Here is a Look at Who She Didn’t Want at Her Funeral
Baby Daddy Andile Cana Distraught After Zoleka Mandela Barred Him From Her Funeral
Andile has spoken out for the first time after news broke out of how his former woman, Zoleka barred him. The painter and creative strategist is the father of Zoleka’s last child, Zingce. He spoke to Zimoja and revealed how the whole drama affected him:
“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. 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 added:
“I am a very private person, and I always protect those close to me. This has been a very challenging time, but we face challenges head-on. I mourned her in the privacy of my home.”
On 30 September 2023, the day of the funeral, he stayed home and prayed for Zoleka as he grieved.
How The Two Ex-Lovebirds Met
Andile Leeroy Cana told the publication that he met Zoleka on Instagram after a friend suggested he create a tribute jacket honouring her brave fight against cancer.
“I was single at the time and I wasn’t looking for a girlfriend, but the spark was too much to ignore. The same friend who had suggested we work together surprisingly told me about her being gifted in custom-made shoes. So, we were like a match made in heaven. It was all about work in the beginning. We collaborated and this meant spending a lot of time together.
“Love is a beautiful thing. We could even finish each other’s sentences, but she warned me about the jealousy that was ahead of us, especially from people on social media. I didn’t even know much about her or anything about her prior to the friend introducing me. So, I had to understand her and about her during the relationship. Eventually, she gave me the greatest gift of all, baby Zingce.”