The Tshabalala family from Dube, Soweto, is appealing to the public for assistance in bringing their daughter’s remains back to South Africa after she tragically passed away in the United States. The family has been left devastated by the sudden loss of 35-year-old Thobile Tshabalala, who died in hospital after a long battle with illness.
Thobile had been living and working in the United States for several years, hoping to build a better life for herself and support her family back home. However, things took a tragic turn when she fell seriously ill in a foreign country, far from her loved ones. Unable to afford the cost of medical treatment and desperate to return home to be cared for by her family, Thobile tried to raise enough funds for her journey back to South Africa.
Sadly, despite her efforts, Thobile’s health continued to deteriorate, and she passed away in a hospital in the United States before she could make the trip home. Now, her grieving family faces the painful task of trying to repatriate her remains so that she can be laid to rest with dignity in her homeland.
Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Thobile’s distraught relatives described the emotional and financial toll the tragedy has taken on them. The family explained that they had exhausted all their financial resources trying to assist Thobile during her illness. Now, with the costs of repatriating her remains expected to run into hundreds of thousands of rand, they are appealing to the public, government, and any organizations that may be able to help.
Thobile’s mother, overwhelmed with grief, expressed her deep pain at the thought of her daughter’s body lying in a foreign land while they are unable to perform the burial rituals according to their customs and traditions. “All I want is to bring my child home so we can say our goodbyes properly,” she said tearfully.
The family emphasized that they had tried reaching out to various authorities and organizations for help but have not yet received sufficient support to cover the expenses involved in the process. Repatriating a body from overseas involves extensive paperwork, coordination between governments, and high costs associated with transportation and funeral arrangements.
Community members in Dube have rallied behind the Tshabalala family, offering emotional support and starting small fundraising efforts. However, much more is needed to cover the full costs of bringing Thobile home.
The Tshabalala family is pleading with the South African public to assist in whatever way they can, whether through financial donations or by helping raise awareness of their plight. Anyone willing to assist is encouraged to contact the family directly or through local community organizations assisting with the efforts.
As the family endures this heartbreaking ordeal, their hope remains that with the help of kind-hearted individuals and organizations, Thobile’s remains will soon return home, where she can be laid to rest in peace, surrounded by the love of her family and community.
