As she prepares to hand over her crown, Miss South Africa 2025 Qhawekazi Mazaleni reflects on a year shaped by literacy, indigenous languages and her commitment to making education more inclusive for every child.
By Mapaballo Borotho
Qhawekazi Mazaleni, Miss South Africa 2025, has shared with Kaya 959 how she is feeling as her reign as the queen of Mzansi comes to an end on Saturday, 14 November 2026, and what the next chapter of her journey may look like.
Crowned in the City of Tshwane last year, Mazaleni says reaching the end of her reign feels bittersweet, particularly after a year dedicated to a meaningful mission: championing literacy and making education more accessible to all children.
Reflecting on her journey from working as a speech therapist to stepping onto one of the country’s biggest stages, Mazaleni says she is proud of the impact she has been able to make, particularly in the lives of young children.
More importantly, she is proud to have remained grounded in her purpose and committed to including every child in education, regardless of language, disability or culture.
“At the beginning when I won Miss SA, I often said that I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. That is exactly how I feel right now. I’m still in disbelief as to how quickly this year has passed and how deeply I’ve grown personally and as a thought leader. I’ve learnt to trust myself more and become more comfortable with the responsibility of using my voice while being a voice for others,” said Mazaleni.
Qhawe’s passion for storytelling, particularly in indigenous languages, is no secret. Before she became Miss South Africa, many South Africans had already fallen in love with her via her TikTok content and her famous phrase: “ke di diary tsa ngwanyana wa moXhosa odulang mo Pretoria”.
Her content offered a glimpse into a young woman who was not interested in being confined to speaking only isiXhosa and English. While living in Pretoria, she also embraced learning a language widely spoken in the capital.
Her curiosity about languages has not stopped there. She is currently learning French, which she hopes to put to good use during future visits to West Africa.
“I really want to travel especially to African countries. I have been learning French so I’d love to put that to the test in West Africa,” she said.
For many people, a passion or sense of purpose can be traced back to a particular moment or experience. For Qhawe, her love for language and literacy began in childhood, listening to her grandmother and cousins tell stories before bedtime.
“One of the first stories I remember falling in love with was intsomi kaJakalasi, an African folktale about a cunning jackal. I just remember being absolutely captivated by the characters, the humour that my grandmother seamlessly wove in and all of the stories were told in isiXhosa.
As I grew older, and especially once I started working as a speech therapist, I began to appreciate how important those early experiences with language and storytelling are for a child’s development. Through my training in South African skills and my work in the hospital setting I also became increasingly aware that many South African children don’t have sufficient access to books that reflect their home languages and lived experiences.
That understanding inspired me to write Amasele Amdaka. I want children to experience the same joy of discovering stories that I did, while knowing that their languages and identities are worthy of being represented in literature.”
As her Miss South Africa reign comes to an end, Mazaleni is clear that her work does not end with the handover of the crown. She hopes to continue sharing her knowledge and building meaningful relationships and partnerships that create opportunities for children to develop their literacy skills across Africa.
“When I stood on the Miss SA stage, I spoke about transformation beginning at our foundation. I have wanted my year to contribute meaningfully to education, literacy and the inclusion of children who were overlooked far too often. I am most proud of the communities I have been able to touch and support through the literacy workshops.
But I also recognise that the challenges facing our education system cannot be addressed within a single year. My hope is to continue building partnerships that translate advocacy into practical resources and opportunities for children, families and educators. For me, the work was never meant to end when the crown was handed over.”
Now, as she prepares to hand over her crown to the next Miss South Africa, Mazaleni says one of the biggest lessons she will carry with her is that courage is built through taking action, even when the path ahead feels unfamiliar.
“This year pushed me to step into a lot of unfamiliar spaces and in doing that sometimes you wonder what you have to offer in a room you’re still learning to navigate. This year has taught me to take the step even when I am a little uncertain or afraid.”
And for any woman, young or old, who sees something of herself in Qhawekazi Mazaleni, she has a message about embracing her identity and never feeling the need to become someone else to belong.
“I would want her to know that there is absolutely nothing inadequate about where she comes from, the language she speaks or the story she carries. Your language is not a barrier to your brilliance. It is part of your inheritance, your identity and the unique perspective you bring into the world.
I hope she never feels that she has to become less of herself to belong in spaces she dreams of entering. I grew up as a young isiXhosa-speaking girl in the Eastern Cape, and today I have had the extraordinary privilege of representing my country. There is room for your voice and your ambitions. And if you find yourself in a space where that room hasn’t yet been created, I hope you have the courage to help create it.”
The Miss South Africa 2026 finale takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre on Saturday evening, 14 November, where Mazaleni will hand over her crown to her successor.
While her reign may be coming to an end, her commitment to literacy, language and inclusive education is set to continue beyond the title.
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