The South African who gifted his domestic worker a Rolex and a car worth over R500,000
Media personality Malcolm Wentzel has become well known for his close friendship with his domestic worker, Thembi Ubisi, with their light-hearted videos on social media.
However, Wentzel has also made headlines for a series of amazing gifts to Ubisi, including a car and a Rolex watch worth an estimated combined value of more than R500,000.
The pair’s relationship has become an internet success story, with their friendship extending beyond the traditional employer-employee dynamic.
In 2020, Wentzel surprised Ubisi with her first car, a Suzuki Baleno hatchback estimated to be worth between R150,000 and R200,000.
Sharing a photograph of the pair standing in front of the vehicle, he wrote: “Congratulations to my Thembi. I bought her her first car at the age most people retire!”
Three years later, Wentzel again made headlines after gifting Ubisi a Rolex watch reportedly worth more than R300,000.
Announcing the gift, he wrote: “Thanx for all the time you give to me, Thembi, congrats on your first Rolex.”
The generosity has not stopped there. Over the years, Wentzel has also built a house for Ubisi and pays her more than R14,000 a month for her role, which he describes as his house manager.
Despite the public attention surrounding the gifts, both insist that their friendship came long before social media fame.
“My relationship with Malcolm started when I worked for him. We started making videos, but not for TikTok—for us, having fun together,” Ubisi explained in an interview with Newzroom Afrika.
She said their bond helped both of them through difficult periods in life. “There are times where we have terrible times to get through, so we were taking care of each other,” she said.
Wentzel said their relationship has always been based on mutual support rather than one person helping the other.
“Our relationship goes both ways. We help each other. We carry each other through life’s obstacles. When things are going well, we’re good together. When things are going badly, we help each other to get through it.”
Employees are teammates, not subordinates
Wentzel believes employers should view those who work with them as teammates rather than subordinates.
“I always say you don’t have people who work for you. You are working together with that person, or those persons are working together with you, so you are in a team,” Wentzel said.
He added that the secret is to treat each other with respect and dignity and to treat people the way they want to be treated.
Reflecting on why their videos resonate with so many people, Wentzel said they were created to spread positivity, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. “It brought us closer. We are always pranking each other to uplift the spirit,” he said.
“If we are sending out a message, it is not to focus on the negative, but to know that there’s a positive out there that will reach you.”
Ubisi hopes others take inspiration from their relationship. “Every South African must hold each other,” she said.
“Even if you are a domestic worker, it doesn’t make you less. We’re helping each other. If someone can copy from me and my family with Malcolm, they can do it.”
Before becoming a social media personality, Wentzel built his career as a corporate executive and industrial specialist in South Africa’s engineering and pyrometallurgical sectors.
He later founded the FKN brand and digital community, which has expanded into charity initiatives, entertainment events and large-scale competitions, while his friendship with Ubisi continues to entertain South Africans.
Photos of Thembi receiving her watch and car
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