Four South African celebrities who died of cancer in 2023
We take a look at four celebrities who lost their lives due to cancer this year.
Cancer continues to kill millions of people around the world.
Every sixth death in the world is due to cancer, states Our World In Data.
This year, South Africa lost several celebrities to cancer.
Zoleka Mandela
The country is in mourning after it was announced that the granddaughter of Winnie and Nelson Mandela, Zoleka Mandela, has died due to cancer on Monday, 25 September.
A statement was released on Instagram on Tuesday, 26 September, detailing how the author died surrounded by her friends and loved ones.
On 17 September, she wrote on Instagram that she had blood clots and fibrosis in her lungs.
"I had a CT Scan administered a few weeks back, which have shown that I have blood clots as well as Fibrosis in my lung. This explains the chest pains I had been feeling. My Medical Oncologist has recommended blood thinners and Oral Chemo. On the upside, I’m incredibly grateful that I am still treatable! I’m off to bed … Good night … Good morning, beloved hearts!," she wrote on IG.
READ: Zoleka Mandela diagnosed with cancer again: "I'm dying"
Last year, Zoleka revealed that she has Bone Metastais.
"[I] recently consulted with my GP when I could no longer tolerate the excruciating pain in my left rib. I went for an x-ray of my chest and rib a few days ago - I have a pathological fracture and swelling caused by cancer. My medical oncologist has scheduled me for a CT scan and bone scan, to determine whether I have cancer in the remaining parts of my body," she wrote on Instagram.
READ: New sports bra helps detect early signs of breast cancer
"From what she’s told me, cancer in the bones cannot be eradicated nor can it be cured. I have Bone Metastasis. I’ve just had my CT scan and awaiting my results, I don’t even have the words to articulate my thoughts and feelings, the words to describe how scared I am right now. What do I tell my children? How do I tell them that this time around, I may not get to live my life as a survivor? How do I tell them everything will be okay when it’s not? I’m dying, I don’t want to die," she concluded her emotional post.
Angie Oeh
Afrikaans musician Angie Oeh revealed in August that she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.
She asked for financial assistance with her medical expenses and revealed that she will need at least R200,000.
A few days after asking for financial assistance, the 24-year-old died on 20 August in a hospital in Pretoria.
READ: Angie Oeh 'leeu met katjie hart', sê vriend Peach van Pletzen
Derek Watts
South African journalist and TV presenter, Derek Watts, died on 22 August after battling cancer.
Watts was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2022 and later revealed that it had spread to his lungs.
He worked for Carte Blanche on M-Net for 35 years from 1988 until 2023.
Mark Pilgrim
Media personality Mark Pilgrim died on 5 March.
He was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in March 2022. The cancer spread to his femur, the base of his spine, and lymph nodes.
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Image courtesy of Instagram.