By Marcus Moloko
Qhawekazi Mazaleni has been crowned Miss South Africa 2025. Her name carries a weight of destiny.
Qhawekazi, meaning “queen” or “heroine” in isiXhosa, has lived up to the title as she was crowned Miss South Africa 2025 at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria on Saturday night.
Dressed in a regal emerald and gold custom David Tlale gown, Mazaleni won hearts and the judges’ favor as her choice of hairstyle and graceful presence made her a crowd favourite.
It was her heartfelt advocacy, coupled with her passion as a speech therapist and education advocate, that appears to have sealed her victory.
The 24-year-old holds a degree in speech, language, and hearing therapy from Stellenbosch University and is currently pursuing her Master’s in speech language pathology at the University of Pretoria with a focus on autism.
Her reign begins with a clear mission to champion literacy, autism awareness, and access to education for underprivileged communities.
She has published a children’s book in isiXhosa to promote early language development and aims to expand educational resources in indigenous languages.
It must run in the family as Mazaleni follows in the footsteps of her sister, Homba Mazaleni, who once placed in the top 5 in the 2023 Miss SA competition.
She is set to have a busy reign as she collaborates with NGO’s and government departments to promote inclusive education and support for children learning with disabilities.
Luyanda Zuma was named first princess, while Karabo Mareka took the second princess spot. The top 10 finalists represented a diverse range of professions, from doctors and chartered accountants to flight attendants.
The judging panel included former Miss South Africa and Miss Universe runner-up Dr Tamaryn Green, journalist Heidi Gioko, actress Cindy Mahlangu, former Miss South Africa Ndavi Nokeri, and brand strategist Thebe Ikalafeng.
Mazaleni receives a prize package worth over R 3 million, which includes a R 1 million cash prize, a Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé, and a penthouse apartment for her reign.
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