Babyboom
She was scheduled for a C-section but Madiba’s granddaughter ZOLEKA MANDELA ended up giving birth six days earlier than planned when daughter ZENZILE decided to make a surprise appearance! “I woke up this morning and got up before everyone else to attend to the house – I was trying to pack last night’s clean dishes when my water broke!! I was in labour for close to 5hrs before Mr Bashala and I birthed our daughter,” she wrote on Instagram. Baby Bashala, as her mom calls her, needed to be incubated for a while due to some minor complications but she’s doing well. Mom and daughter are already home and settling into their new routine. It’s the fifth child for Zoleka, and the second for her and hubby Thierry Bashala. The couple also share a daughter, Zanyiwe (4). Zoleka has a 16-year-old son, Zwelami. She also had two children who passed away. “I’m blessed much more than I truly deserve!!! Thanking God, My Day One (my grandmother), my babies in Heaven – Zenani and Zenawe – for my MIRACLE!!!” she continued on Instagram. Zoleka isn’t the only one who’s been expanding the Mandela family. Madiba’s grandson MANDLA MANDELA and his wife of three years, NOSEKENI RABIA MANDELA, added twins – a boy and a girl – to the family a few months ago.
The couple, who also have a one-year-old son, Mandela, welcomed their twins in Cape Town in November and the little ones have been on their first international flight already. The family travelled to London where Mandla opened an exhibition honouring his famous grandpa.