Finalists to compete at the Sandton Convention Centre on 14 November, with all 12 set to become Empower Youth Africa ambassadors on finale night.

Miss South Africa has announced its Top 12 finalists for 2026, setting the stage for a finale that will celebrate leadership, purpose and impact alongside the crowning of the country’s next titleholder. The winner will be announced at the Sandton Convention Centre on Saturday, 14 November 2026.

But the crown is only part of the story. All 12 finalists will be welcomed as Empower Youth Africa (EYA) ambassadors on finale night, ensuring that their platform for change extends beyond the competition.

The Top12 finalists, listed alphabetically by first name, are: Alia Khan Koumantarakis, Amogelang Bunu, Bonolo Marang Motau, Cwenga Koyana Kotu-Rammopo, Katlego Malebye, Lesego Khumo Nyathela, Makhosazana Azana Masango, Ndivanga Muravha, Palesa van Rooyen, Simoné Nonhlanhla Tshituka, Tiyani Makamu, and Zoalize Jansen Van Rensburg

The announcement places a new group of young women at the forefront of a platform that develops leaders, advocates, entrepreneurs and agents of change. The finalists are already championing causes ranging from literacy and mental health to youth employment and financial wellness, reinforcing the message that they do not need to wait for a crown to make a difference.

At the heart of that mission is EYA, which turns visibility into action for young people. Last year’s cohort reached nearly 17,000 students across 16 schools and communities, a foundation for the next group of ambassadors to build on.

EYA focuses on five pillars: access to education and knowledge; youth unemployment; entrepreneurship and skills development; health and wellness; and civic engagement and Pan-African collaboration.

Under the 2026 theme, Imbokodo, the finalists embody the strength of the grinding stone: women who, through EYA, help shape South Africa’s youth into diamonds. While the competition will crown one winner, EYA champions every finalist and the work she carries into her community.

The competition’s assessment process centres on leadership, purpose and impact, with specialist judges and external audit verification. Finalists are supported through bootcamp, mentorship and their EYA initiatives, equipping them with skills and opportunities that reach beyond finale night.

Audiences can get to know the women and their journeys through The Mandate, Miss South Africa’s seven-part documentary series, streaming at https://www.misssa.co.za/the-mandate/

Tickets for the finale are now on sale through Ticketpro, starting at R450. Bookings can be made at Ticketpro.

The 14 November finale will bring together fashion, music and performance in a celebration of South African talent. Alongside the entertainment, the Top 12 announcement underscores the platform’s wider purpose: empowering women to lead and helping young people turn potential into possibility.

MAMELODI

Qhawekazi Mazaleni champions inclusive literacy through a meaningful reading session with autism learners

Mamelodi, Pretoria – In recognition of World Autism Acceptance Month this April, and on the eve of World Book Day (23 April), Miss South Africa 2025 and Empower Youth Africa (EYA) Ambassador, Qhawekazi Mazaleni, visited Tshegofatsong Special School in Mamelodi, Pretoria, where she conducted a dedicated book-reading session for learners in the school’s autism unit.

Mazaleni read from her isiXhosa children’s book, Amasele Amdaka, engaging learners through an interactive and sensory-aware storytelling approach tailored to the needs of the class. The session formed part of her ongoing literacy-led Empower Youth Africa engagements, with a specific focus on inclusive education and access to language-appropriate learning resources.

The visit holds particular significance, aligning both with World Autism Acceptance Month and World Book Day, reinforcing the role of books as tools for inclusion, communication, and understanding across diverse learning needs.

Mazaleni developed Amasele Amdaka during her final year of studying Speech Therapy, inspired by her experience working with a nine-year-old patient with cerebral palsy. That experience deepened her commitment to creating accessible, relatable, and affirming educational tools for children navigating communication challenges.

During the session, she brought the story to life through expressive reading, visual cues, and interactive engagement, creating a safe and encouraging environment for participation. Learners responded with enthusiasm, engaging with the story in ways that reflected both joy and connection.

“This book was created from a place of understanding and care,” said Mazaleni. “Every child deserves to see themselves in stories and to experience learning in a way that affirms who they are. Inclusion is not just awareness, it is acceptance.”

Beyond the reading, Mazaleni spent time engaging with educators and learners, highlighting the importance of representation, early intervention, and continued support for children with diverse learning needs.

Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology with a focus on Autism, Mazaleni continues to bridge her academic work with her advocacy, using her platform to promote inclusive education, literacy, and developmental support for neurodivergent children and their families.

Her literacy outreach forms a core part of her Empower Youth Africa mandate, which prioritises access to education, youth empowerment, and sustainable social impact. Through targeted school visits, storytelling, and advocacy, she continues to demonstrate how leadership can translate into meaningful, community-driven change.

For media and interview enquiries, please direct all requests to Nhlanhla@misssa.co.za or call 078 772 6485

ABOUT EMPOWER YOUTH AFRICA (EYA)

Empower Youth Africa (EYA) is Miss South Africa’s official social impact programme and the engine through which Miss South Africa translates influence into action. EYA focuses on empowering youth and women through youth unemployment, entrepreneurship and skills development, health and wellness (including mental well-being), access to education, civic engagement and leadership, Pan-African collaboration, and inclusive development.

Miss South Africa 2025 and Empower Youth Africa (EYA) Ambassador, Qhawekazi Mazaleni, continued her literacy-led outreach with a visit to Nkone Maruping Primary School, where she engaged learners through a book-reading session and meaningful dialogue centred on diversity, inclusion, and self-belief.

As part of her ongoing Empower Youth Africa literacy programme, Qhawekazi read from her isiXhosa children’s book Amasele Amdaka, encouraging learners to embrace reading in their mother tongue as a foundation for learning, confidence, and cultural identity. The interactive session fostered enthusiasm for storytelling while reinforcing the importance of language in early childhood development.

The visit coincided with the school’s Diversity Celebration Day, which Qhawekazi described as both exciting and deeply affirming. In conversations with learners, she reflected on the beauty of South Africa’s diversity, sharing lessons on respect, tolerance, and the importance of celebrating each person’s uniqueness. She encouraged learners to view diversity not as a difference to be feared, but as a strength that enriches their school, communities and the nation as a whole.

Addressing the learners, Qhawekazi spoke about her own journey and the values that have guided her path, including discipline, perseverance, and pride in one’s identity. She urged learners to honour who they are, remain curious, and treat others with kindness and respect, regardless of background or circumstance.

The Nkone Maruping Primary School community welcomed the engagement warmly, with educators noting the positive impact of combining literacy promotion with broader life lessons on social cohesion and mutual respect. Learners responded with enthusiasm, participating actively in discussions and expressing excitement at meeting Miss South Africa and taking part in a reading experience that celebrated both language and diversity.

Qhawekazi’s school visits form a central part of her Empower Youth Africa mandate, which places strong emphasis on access to education, literacy development, and values-driven leadership. Through these engagements, she continues to champion education as a catalyst for empowerment, unity, and long-term social transformation.

About Empower Youth Africa (EYA)

Empower Youth Africa is the Miss South Africa Organisation’s flagship collective action programme, uniting all Miss South Africa 2025 finalists under a shared vision to deliver scalable and sustainable social-impact initiatives across five pillars: youth unemployment, entrepreneurship and skills development, access to education, health and wellness, and civic engagement and Pan-African collaboration.

A milestone moment for Miss South Africa 2025, Qhawekazi Mazaleni graces her first-ever magazine cover with Bona, opening up about the journey that led her to the crown and the purpose that drives her reign.

In the cover story, Qhawe reflects on her upbringing, the family that shaped her resilience, and the self-belief it took to step into one of the country’s most powerful platforms. She speaks candidly about growth, imposter syndrome, and redefining beauty and leadership in modern pageantry, while sharing her vision for inclusive education and literacy advocacy through her work.

It’s an intimate, inspiring introduction to a queen grounded in service, intention, and impact and just the beginning of her story.

Qhawekazi Mazaleni inspires learners through mother-tongue storytelling and messages of possibility

East Rand, Gauteng – Miss South Africa 2025 and Empower Youth Africa (EYA) Ambassador, Qhawekazi Mazaleni, today visited Monde Primary School in the East Rand, where she conducted a book-reading session as part of her ongoing literacy-led Empower Youth Africa engagements.

Qhawekazi read from her isiXhosa children’s book, Amasele Amdaka, engaging primary school learners in a warm and interactive reading experience designed to encourage early literacy, comprehension, and a love for reading in a familiar language. The visit formed part of her broader commitment to promoting mother-tongue learning as a critical foundation for childhood development.

The day was marked by a vibrant and heartfelt welcome from the Monde Primary School community. Learners greeted Qhawekazi with an energetic drum majorettes performance, followed by a moving choral rendition by the school choir, creating a celebratory atmosphere that reflected the pride and joy of the occasion.

The school’s principal expressed deep appreciation for the visit, sharing that he himself is a former learner of Monde Primary School. He noted that witnessing Qhawekazi return to uplift the next generation was especially meaningful, adding that he has always believed in the importance of “paying it forward” and investing back into the same communities that shape future leaders.

Beyond the book reading, Qhawekazi took time to engage learners in a motivational discussion about dreams, discipline, and possibility. She shared her personal journey toward becoming Miss South Africa, emphasising that her achievement was the result of hard work, perseverance, and self-belief. Learners were encouraged to see their own dreams as attainable and to remain committed to their education and aspirations.

The children responded with visible excitement and enthusiasm, with many expressing delight at meeting Miss South Africa and participating in a reading session that celebrated language, storytelling, and ambition.

Qhawekazi’s literacy outreach forms a core part of her Empower Youth Africa mandate, which focuses on access to education, youth empowerment, and sustainable social impact. Through school visits, book readings, and advocacy for language-appropriate learning resources, she continues to champion education as a powerful driver of opportunity and transformation.

About Empower Youth Africa (EYA)

Empower Youth Africa is the Miss South Africa Organisation’s flagship collective action programme, uniting all Miss South Africa 2025 finalists under a shared vision to deliver scalable and sustainable social-impact initiatives across five pillars: youth unemployment, entrepreneurship and skills development, access to education, health and wellness, and civic engagement and Pan-African collaboration.

The Miss South Africa 2026 finalists attended a stylish Galentine’s Day celebration hosted by House of NALA at its Sandton City store, marking an evening of friendship, fashion and a thoughtfully curated in-store experience.

Guests were welcomed on a red carpet before enjoying music and a glass of Precious Hidden Valley Wines in a relaxed, celebratory setting.

At the heart of the evening was Love in Denim by NALA Privé, a collection centred on personalisation through initials, patches and custom detailing, allowing each piece to reflect individuality and self-expression. In alignment with the Miss South Africa platform’s social-impact mandate, a portion of proceeds from the denim collection goes towards Empower Youth Africa (EYA), supporting youth empowerment and development initiatives across the country.

Miss South Africa 2025, Qhawekazi Mazaleni, was joined by Miss South Africa 2025 First Runner-Up, Luyanda Zuma, with the Miss South Africa 2025 Top 9 finalists also in attendance, adding to the energy and celebratory atmosphere of the evening.

The event reflected the essence of the VIP House of NALA experience: considered service, strong African design, and a space where shopping feels social and purposeful. Guests departed with curated goodie bags, including BioNike skincare hampers, rounding off a memorable Galentine’s Day celebration.

Miss South Africa 2025 and Empower Youth Africa (EYA) Ambassador, Qhawekazi Mazaleni, is preparing to officially launch her Empower Youth Africa campaign, a literacy-driven programme focused on mother-tongue learning, early language development, and access to education.

On Wednesday, 04 February 2026, as part of the preparatory phase ahead of the campaign’s official activation, Qhawekazi visited Zenzeleni Primary School in Alexandra where she conducted a book-reading session with learners and engaged educators on the importance of language-appropriate literacy resources.

During the visit, Qhawekazi read from her own children’s book, Amasele Amdaka, an isiXhosa story written to support early reading, comprehension, and language development. The book was selected specifically to ensure that learners whose home languages fall within the Nguni language group could engage meaningfully with the story, fostering cultural inclusion and literacy skills from an early age.

Qhawekazi is a qualified speech therapist by profession, a background that strongly informs her literacy advocacy and approach to early childhood development. Her work emphasizes the critical link between language acquisition, speech development, and long-term educational outcomes.

Research shows that children develop stronger reading comprehension, confidence, and cognitive skills when learning materials are provided in their home languages, particularly in the foundational phases of education. Studies further demonstrate that children read for understanding more effectively when exposed to familiar linguistic structures, as opposed to learning exclusively in additional languages.

Through this engagement, Qhawekazi reinforced the importance of culturally relevant storytelling as both a literacy tool and a means of preserving language and identity.

Speaking on the initiative, Qhawekazi Mazaleni said:

“Literacy is the foundation of opportunity. When children are taught to read in a language they understand, they are empowered to express themselves, to learn with confidence, and to succeed. As a speech therapist, I have seen firsthand how language access shapes a child’s future. This campaign is about meeting children where they are.”

As Qhawekazi continues to work on translating the existing Amasele Amdaka into South African official  languages, and expands her broader literacy programme to reach different age groups, she looks forward to creating more meaningful engagements that deepen impact and broaden access to reading across communities.

The literacy programme forms the cornerstone of Qhawekazi’s Empower Youth Africa campaign and aligns with the Miss South Africa Organisation’s broader commitment to access to education as a driver of youth empowerment and social transformation.

About Empower Youth Africa (EYA)

Empower Youth Africa is the Miss South Africa Organisation’s flagship collective action programme, uniting all Miss South Africa 2025 finalists under a shared vision to deliver scalable and sustainable social-impact initiatives across five pillars: youth unemployment, entrepreneurship and skills development, access to education, health and wellness, and civic engagement and Pan-African collaboration.

Miss South Africa 2025, Qhawekazi Mazaleni, following her historic victory, celebrated her homecoming in the Eastern Cape, filled with vibrant cultural performances and community engagements that reflect her commitment to inclusive education and youth empowerment.

The Miss South Africa Organisation is proud to announce Qhawekazi Mazaleni as the new Miss South Africa 2025. With a strong commitment to driving meaningful transformation, Qhawekazi has vowed to embody courage and purpose throughout her reign.

As the first ambassador of the organisation’s new Empower Youth Africa (EYA) initiative, Qhawekazi will focus on creating scalable and sustainable social-impact initiatives that focus on Women and Youth.

– Youth Unemployment

– Entrepreneurship and Skills Development

– Access to Education

– Health and Wellness

– Civic Engagement and Pan-African Collaboration

A Message from Miss South Africa 2025

“Leadership involves responsibility. I want to be an ambassador with deep purpose and a voice that reflects this country. I intend to take EYA very seriously during the coming year of my reign and ensure that everything I and my fellow finalists do, is anchored in impact and can be measured when I hand over,” said Qhawekazi Mazaleni.

Empowering Young Women

The Miss South Africa Organisation remains committed to empowering young women to lead with courage and authenticity. “It is such a pleasure to see Qhawekazi Mazaleni crowned as Miss South Africa 2025. She is a shining example of excellence and embodies the values that drive Empower Youth Africa,” said Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, Patron and Chairman of the Miss South Africa Organisation.

About Empower Youth Africa

Empower Youth Africa is a collective action programme that unites all nine 2025 finalists under a shared vision to create scalable and sustainable social-impact initiatives.

About Miss South Africa

Miss South Africa is a premier national platform that empowers young women to become leaders and change-makers through its flagship mission, Empower Youth Africa. The organisation identifies, develops, and celebrates exceptional women who drive positive change and unlock the potential of South Africa’s youth and women.