Xolane Ndhlovu Steps In To Help Family in Time of Loss

In a touching act of humanity from an unlikely place, South African billionaire Xolane Ndhlovu has paid the full cost of repatriating the body of 29-year-old makeup artist Primrose Vale from Nigeria—despite currently serving a prison sentence for attempted murder.

Vale, a vibrant and ambitious young woman, died tragically from malaria in Lagos during a holiday trip. Her sudden passing not only shattered her loved ones but also left her family in South Africa facing the painful challenge of raising over R97,000 to bring her body home.

Desperate for help, the Vale family launched a public appeal, which, for days, gained little traction. As hope began to fade, Ndhlovu—incarcerated at Leeuwkop Correctional Service—heard their story and stepped forward with a R100,000 donation to cover the entire cost.

His generosity has offered the grieving family much-needed closure. “We are forever grateful to Mr. Ndhlovu,” said Primrose’s father, Orlando Vale. “His incredible kindness and generosity brought us the closure we desperately needed. We can finally bring our beloved daughter home to rest.”

This isn’t Ndhlovu’s first show of quiet philanthropy. Known for helping people in distress, he made headlines in 2024 when he changed the life of Thandile Ramza, a struggling single mother from East London. After Ramza reached out to him on Facebook for food assistance, Ndhlovu went far beyond her expectations—helping her secure a job, gifting her a car, and eventually building her a new R770,000 house to replace her unsafe home.

From inside a prison cell, Ndhlovu has shown that compassion knows no limits. His acts of kindness—often directed at those society overlooks—have earned him a reputation as a humble philanthropist who prefers changing lives over flaunting wealth.

While the circumstances of Primrose Vale’s death remain heartbreaking, the story of her return home has become a testament to the power of empathy—and a reminder that sometimes, the most powerful gestures come from the most unexpected hearts.