Thembeka Beauty Shoba, 24, was a community worker in the KwaZulu-Natal area of Eshowe. She helped young orphans and made sure they received their grants and other social service benefits.

She offered her services free of charge because she believed that it was important to help people in need. People in her community said that they would miss here very a lot.

She worked as a hairdresser to earn a living. At the tender age of 10, Shoba started plaiting hair after school and during holidays and she said her hobby brought in extra money.

Those who knew her, describe her as a "phenomenal woman who was not selfish".

Her best friend, Nomzamo Sibiya, said: "She always went the extra mile to teach other girls hairdressing."

Shoba's other love was dancing. Her mother, Lindiwe Buthelezi, this week recalled how she got annoyed with her daughter because their backyard was always crowded with young boys and girls who wanted Shoba to teach them to dance.

Buthelezi said: "They would plead with her to teach them the Sarafina dance.She would never refuse."

Born in Mbongolwane near Eshowe, Shoba learnt to dance when she visited her relatives in Durban.

After matriculating at Mavumengwane High School, she left home to look for work because her parents could not afford to send her to a tertiary institution.

Shoba started working for a Durban hairdresser and before her death she worked at a leading hairdressing salon, Scott and Wells, in Umhlanga.

She died in the early hours of Monday morning after a short illness.

Shoba is survived by her mother, two brothers and three sisters.

She will be buried tomorrow at Mbongolwane in Eshowe.