Community gathers in Dube to honour Thobile Tshabalala after repatriation
This comes after residents successfully donated funds to help her family repatriate her body from the USA on July 8.
According to information provided, Tshabalala left South Africa in May last year for greener pastures and started working as an au pair through a programme.
ALSO READ: Urgent appeal: Zondi family needs R130k to repatriate daughter's body from USA
She was, however, let go by her agency after she fell ill in April.
It is alleged that due to her deteriorating mental health, Tshabalala reached out to a friend abroad who promised to assist her with money to fly back to SA. However, she collapsed at their meeting point in the airport.
Tshabalala's uncle, Kholekile Mnisi, said they are grateful to everyone who made donations to help bring her body home.
According to her former friend, who was in charge of the GoFundMe account that was used to gather the donations, a total of R328 000 was donated.
However, they did not receive all the funds as only R83 600 was received, Mnisi said.
'We see it fit to release these figures because we are liable to give everyone who donated feedback on how the money was used, but we are disappointed that the friend kept a portion of the money to herself without our permission.'
Mnisi described their current state of the family as 'going through an out-of-body experience that one could never prepare for'.
ALSO READ: Durban Deep protests erupt after mutilated body of 14-year-old girl found
'We are not coping. Especially her mother, she's going through the most.
'The last time she saw her daughter was when she was alive and healthy, and now she's only receiving her belongings in a black bag, which contains sneakers and a few items, as well as her empty purse and passport.
'It is gut-wrenching because Thobile had a lot of belongings in the US that her mother could not get, and no one can be held accountable for us not receiving them.'
Tshabalala will be spending her final night in her home and will be laid to rest tomorrow, July 12.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Charges dropped against accused in Likhona Fose murder case
Likhona Fose, 14, a Grade 8 learner at Ikusasalethu Secondary School in Braamfischerville, Soweto, was brutally murdered. Image: Facebook Mduduzi Trevor Mnisi expressed relief outside the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on Wednesday when charges against him in the murder case of 14-year-old Likhona Fose, were withdrawn. This comes two weeks after Mnisi was released on bail of R5000 after the court learned that the evidence of the State heavily relied on a report given by a community member, who had stated that Mnisi was the last person to be seen with the teenager. Scores of community members of Durban Deep, Roodepoort and anti-GBV organisations came out in their numbers to support the grieving family of 14-year-old Likhona Fose, who was mutilated and killed in the area. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Mnisi, who was on parole at the time of the incident, was linked to the case through a single witness who later became uncooperative, as there was no forensic or additional evidence tying him to the crime, with the court finding the State's case too weak to proceed. On July 2, Mnisi's girlfriend, Pinky Gantso, testified at his bail hearing to provide an alibi for the day Likhona disappeared. Gantso detailed Mnisi's movements on May 31, painting a picture of a man following his normal routine, with Gantso saying Mnisi had visited her in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, on the same day that Likhona disappeared, and on his return, proceeded to travel to Dobsonville, Soweto. The 39-year-old parolee, who faced several charges, including premeditated murder, appeared in the court on Wednesday where he was visibly relieved over the decision to withdraw charges. "I am so happy that the charges have been dropped against me, I was innocent all along because I was not involved in this," he said. The teen's mutilated body was discovered in an open field in Durban Deep, west of Johannesburg, on June 1, following Likhona's disappearance on May 31. Mnisi was charged with the murder and during his application to be released on bail, Mnisi raised an alibi that he did not know the deceased and that his phone records would prove that he was in Daveyton on May 31. In a statement, NPA spokesperson Phindile Mjonondwane stated that subsequent to Mnisi's bail hearing, the NPA had given instructions to the investigating officer to probe his alibi, and indeed, his phone was linked to a tower in Daveyton. "Furthermore, there were more statements obtained from other witnesses that confirmed that Minisi could not have been the last person to be seen with the deceased. The decision to withdraw charges is therefore fair and responsible under these circumstances. "The investigation continues to unearth what transpired on the day Fose was brutally killed. At this stage, we urge community members to work with us in our attempts to find justice for the affected family." Cape Times
The South African
2 days ago
- The South African
South African woman killed in Brazil by ex-partner
A tragic story of abuse has come to a devastating end with the death of 27-year-old Leigh-Anne McKenzie, a South African woman from Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal, who was shot and killed in Brazil, allegedly by her former partner and abuser, Ian Alexander Bruder Hay. The killing occurred one day after McKenzie arrived in Brazil to visit Hay, a 30-year-old US military veteran, who had previously been arrested in Texas on domestic violence charges. McKenzie's ordeal began in Houston, Texas in October 2024, where she was subjected to a brutal assault by Hay. Police charged him with Assault Family Violence Impeding Breathing, a felony linked to strangulation and physical harm. McKenzie sustained three spinal fractures and head trauma in the attack and later recounted in a GoFundMe campaign post: 'He had told me numerous times that he was going to kill me. As I feared for my safety, I tried to escape the apartment.' Despite the severity of the charges, Hay was released on $50 000 bond and fled to Brazil in December 2024, avoiding prosecution in the United States. McKenzie travelled to Brazil on 18 July 2025, where she met with Hay in Curitiba. Less than 24 hours later, he shot her twice before taking his own life. Their bodies were discovered on 20 July, after a neighbour reported blood dripping through the ceiling of the apartment. Authorities found a highly disturbing crime scene, including a 9mm pistol, ammunition, cocaine rocks, hundreds of syringes used for substance abuse, two magazines with extenders for 30 rounds each, a spiral magazine with a capacity of 50 rounds, six cellphones, two precision scales, a computer, a pocket knife, watches, and jewelry inside the apartment. These findings suggest a deeper pattern of criminal behaviour and mental instability that may have contributed to the tragedy. Crucially, there is no reported evidence that Hay coerced McKenzie to come see him in Brazil. Her mother allegedly told police that she met Hay last year in the United States when she went to visit an ex-boyfriend, but didn't share additional details about their relationship. Photos from the apartment where the murder-suicide took place (Policia Civil do Paraná) Photos from the apartment where the murder-suicide took place (Policia Civil do Paraná) Photos from the apartment where the murder-suicide took place (Policia Civil do Paraná) The case has reignited international outrage over the handling of domestic violence cases and failures in cross-border justice systems. Many are questioning how Hay was allowed to leave the US while on bail and why McKenzie was left exposed to further danger. South African consular officials are working with Brazilian authorities to facilitate the repatriation of McKenzie's remains. Leigh-Anne McKenzie is remembered by friends and family as bright, resilient, and deeply compassionate. Her story has touched many and serves as a stark reminder of the devastating toll of gender-based violence and the need for urgent international cooperation to protect survivors. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, support is available. In South Africa, contact the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre at 0800 428 428 or send a 'Please Call Me' to 1207867# (free from any network). Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Soldiers mourn loss of fellow private in tragic elephant-related incident in Limpopo
Soldiers mourn loss of fellow private in tragic elephant-related incident in Limpopo The death of a private, a member of the 10 Anti-Air Regiment, has been confirmed by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Pretoria Rekord reports that Xavier Raynard was deployed under Operation Corona in the Madimbo area of Limpopo. He was found dead near the Yellow Gate of the Madimbo Operational Base on Sunday afternoon. Preliminary reports indicate that he may have been fatally trampled by a herd of elephants while conducting routine patrols in the challenging terrain. The Madimbo Corridor is a northern military base in Limpopo that borders Zimbabwe and is near nature reserves. It is controlled by the SANDF and is used as a military training zone. Raynard was carrying out a patrol along the Malala Drift Road when he was killed. Rear Admiral Prince Tshabalala, director of Defence Corporate Communication, says his service weapon was recovered at the scene. The SANDF is investigating the incident in collaboration with environmental and wildlife authorities to establish what the full circumstances were. Tshabalala confirmed a formal board of inquiry has been launched to provide clarity and accountability. Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga, chief of the SANDF General Rudzani Maphwanywa, and acting secretary of Defence Dr Thobekile Gamede have extended their condolences to Raynard's family, friends and fellow soldiers. 'His unwavering commitment to protecting South Africa will be honoured and remembered with great respect,' said Tshabalala. Raynard's next of kin, based in Kimberley, Northern Cape, have been formally notified. Tshabalala pointed out that the SANDF is providing psychosocial support to the family and members of his unit during this difficult time. He explained that Operation Corona is a critical national initiative aimed at safeguarding South Africa's borders and combating cross-border crime. Deployed members face not only security threats but also harsh environmental conditions and risks from wildlife in remote border regions. 'The SANDF salutes Private Raynard's sacrifice and dedication. May his soul rest in peace,' says Tshabalala. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
