[category]
[title]
In its ongoing quest to elevate the pageant beyond just women’s physical appearance, The Miss South Africa organisation unveiled a R5 million project aimed at supporting initiatives by young women.
Termed the Women’s Leadership Impact Fund, the project which was unveiled in Sandton on Friday 6 November, will support philanthropy, development and corporate partnerships designed and spearheaded by this year’s 12 Miss SA finalists.
Qhawe Mazaleni is aligned
Reigning queen Qhawekazi Mazaleni has dedicated her Miss SA journey to education and literacy, which speaks directly to how contemporary pageantry has progressively shifted away from just looks.
This is important for Qhawe, as she is affectionately known, especially in present-day South Africa because she’s not oblivious to the magnitude of young girls who look up to models.
“Education is one of the biggest tools for change that we have. Although not everyone has equal access to it, it remains one of the most accessible ways to transform our lives,” says Qhawe.
Qhawe has embarked on various literacy outreach programmes across various schools including Zenzeleni Primary School (Alexandra) and Nkone Maruping Primary School (Braamfischer) as she believes in the importance of establishing the value of education from an early age.
Qhawe’s belief is that if strong foundational learning skills are not cultivated early in life, this has a domino effect that can potentially follow young kids through high school, tertiary education and into the workforce.
Throughout her reign, Qhawe has focused on structural unemployment, gender equality and inclusive education. However, these passions predate her Miss SA victory as she shares with Time Out that her commitment to use her platforms for positive change began before she even entered the pageant.
“I have always said that I wanted the opportunity of becoming Miss South Africa to be a platform through which I could amplify the work I was already doing.”
“Throughout the year, I have focused on building the right relationships, establishing strong foundations and having meaningful conversations that would allow me to enter important spaces,” she asserts.
A sister and brother’s keeper
- Miss SA 2026
- Sandton Convention Centre
- 14 November
- Tickets from R450 on Quicket
A speech therapist by profession, Qhawe’s work focuses on voice, language and communication disorders. Noticing how speech therapy services were not readily available in South African languages is what drew her to this field.
She shares with how during job-shadowing, she encountered a young man whose job was threatened by his loss of speech following a stroke. Fortunately, he was still able to understand when being spoken to.
“The only speech therapists he could access communicated in English and Afrikaans. Seeing the difficulties he experienced with communication made me realise that this was where I needed to make a difference.”
“I realised that children in South Africa with communication disorders or disabilities are often marginalised and are not given enough opportunities to develop their voices or explore different ways of communicating.”
Qhawe’s sister Homba who went as far as the Top 5 during Miss SA 2023 recently won the Top Billing search. For Qhawe, her and her sisters’ journeys blooming simultaneously is a full-circle moment.
She describes Homba as one of the loves of her life, saying they’ve both encountered challenges in their respective pursuits but determination and commitment propelled them forward.
“For us, I think it’s a testament to the fact that when you remain true to yourself, know what you want out of life and remain unwavering in pursuing your goals, doors begin to open. Your journey may not always look the way you expected it to.”
As she prepares to hand over the crown on 14 November at the crowning of Miss SA 2026, Qhawe says she is excited about what lies ahead. She will continue to bridge this gap and ensure that no child is left behind in her speech therapy journey and concludes the interview with a few wise words. When you have a goal, you should pursue it wholeheartedly.
This year’s 12 finalists have all been inducted as Empower Youth Africa (EYA) and will continue on this venture even after this weekend’s finale. In addition, the Top 3 will also receive mentorship, wellness support and access to global networking opportunities.
Fancy winning a trip to Zanzibar, some cash or other cool prizes? Take The Great Big SA Lifestyle Survey and you could be a winner!
Follow Time Out Johannesburg on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram! While you're at it, sign up for our newsletter to receive even more of the best of your city.
TIME OUT JOHANNESBURG RECOMMENDS:
📍 The best things to do in Johannesburg
🏨 The best hotels in Johannesburg
🍽 The best restaurants in Johannesburg
🛏️ Where to stay in Johannesburg
📢 Latest news from Johannesburg