MBABANE – The Miss Eswatini crown remains with reigning queen Temvelo Mtsetfwa as a court case over her outstanding prizes continues to delay administrative decisions within the national pageant.
The Eswatini Pageants Association has confirmed that Mtsetfwa is still officially recognised as Miss Eswatini, with the organisation opting to wait for the courts to finalise a matter linked to prizes owed to her before taking any further steps.
EPA chairperson Tony Dlamini said the association was proceeding cautiously to respect the judicial process and protect the integrity of the titleholder. He said it would be unfair to move ahead with other pageant activities while the reigning queen’s contractual benefits were still unresolved.
Mtsetfwa won the Miss Eswatini crown on November 30, 2024, at a high profile ceremony held at the Happy Valley Hotel in Mbabane. Her prize package included a Jaecoo J7 vehicle, which was displayed during the prize giving but was not formally handed over to her.
The dispute reached the courts in August 2025 after the former licence holders of the pageant allegedly failed to deliver the vehicle as agreed. The respondents, Oukitel Eswatini, represented by lawyer Martin Dlamini, applied for several postponements, citing administrative and legal processes connected to the registration of the vehicle.
During the most recent court appearance, the respondents told the court that the vehicle would be handed over fully registered in Eswatini by February 16, 2025. This assurance was accepted by Mtsetfwa’s lawyer, Sihlesenkhosi Jele, leading Judge Ticheme Dlamini to grant a postponement under those conditions.
Court proceedings further disclosed that Mtsetfwa travelled to South Africa in December, shortly after a court session, to engage directly with the vehicle sponsor in an attempt to resolve outstanding logistical challenges.
The situation has drawn public attention, particularly when compared with developments in South Africa’s pageantry system. In October 2025, Chawekazi Mazaleni, a 24 year old speech therapist from the Eastern Cape, was crowned Miss South Africa 2025 at SunBet Arena in Pretoria. Her prize package was valued at more than R3 million and included a luxury vehicle, a cash award and accommodation for the duration of her reign.
Industry observers say the contrast has renewed debate around governance, sponsor agreements and accountability within Eswatini’s pageant sector.
Miss Eswatini was reintroduced in 2017 after a three year break, with the aim of empowering young women and rebuilding public trust. However, the ongoing court case has once again placed the organisation under scrutiny.
Discussion about this post