JOHANNESBURG – The crown has found its new queen in Qhawekazi Mazaleni who hails from Gonubie, East London. She was officially crowned Miss South Africa 2025 at a dazzling finale held at SunBet Arena, Time Square in Menlyn, Pretoria, on Saturday night.
Mazaleni captured hearts and impressed judges with her poise, intelligence, and passion for youth empowerment. She succeeds Mia Le Raux, who gracefully handed over the crown during the glittering event.
She is currently doing a Master of Arts in speech-language pathology through the University of Pretoria with a focus on autism. Encouragement and inclusivity in education was her driving force behind participating in the Miss SA.
The young changemaker is the youngest of three women and she credits those in her life as the people who moulded and shaped her to become the impactful person she is now.
Qhawekazi’s journey to the crown comes not too long after her older sister, Homba Mazaleni, placed in the top 5 of the 2023 Miss South Africa pageant.
The first runner-up title went to Themba Lemb, while Luyanda Zuma was named first princess and Karabo Maroka finished third. Other finalists who made it to the top stage included Buyile Mashile, Bridgette Jones, and Heidi Thomas.
This year’s judging panel featured former Miss SA titleholders Tamaryn Green (2018) and Ndavi Nokeri (2022), alongside actress and entrepreneur Cindy Mahlangu.
When asked what skill or mindset she would use to empower the youth in her final question, the 24-year-old winner delivered a thought-provoking answer:
“You don’t have opportunities handed to you, but when you use the tools and resources you are able to access, you begin to make an impact in your communities that you operate in.”
With her inspiring words and graceful presence, Mazaleni is set to embark on a year-long journey representing South Africa both locally and internationally, championing causes close to her heart particularly youth development and empowerment.
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