FAMILY needs help to bring their loved one’s remains home from the US.

Thobile Thobile Tshabalala (27) from Zondi in Soweto passed away in Columbus in Ohio, US on 8 June, but her family is struggling with the costs to return her remains to Mzansi.

Her uncle, Kholekile Mnisi told Daily Sun this is a painful time for the family.

“Thobile left South Africa full of hope. We are now fighting to bring her home,” he said.

Thobile left for the US in May 2024 to take part in an au pair programme and lived with a host family and helped care for the children. But things went wrong when she suffered a mental health breakdown in April 2025.

Kholekile said: “Thobile was forced to end her placement while she was not well. She was not given a safe place to live or the help she needed.”

Thobile then lived with with a friend in Phoenix, Arizona after left the host family and later went to New Jersey, hoping to get help with a ticket to return home.

“Thobile collapsed on her way from New Jersey to Ohio. She was taken to a hospital, but her health got worse. She passed away on 8 June at 12.10pm, South African time.

“We asked about her travel insurance and support but were told she was no longer covered. They also said she was hard to find, but we saw no proof that they tried to contact us,” said Kholekile.

The family said they were told that cremation would be cheaper.

According to the family, they were given four options:

Kholekile said the family is worried about how Thobile was treated.

“There was no proper care for Thobile. She was left alone while going through a mental crisis. No one should go through that, especially far from home.

“We need more than R300 000. We’ve started fundraising, but we still need help. We ask anyone who can help us to please support us in bringing Thobile home,” he said.