Miss South Africa 2025 Qhawekazi Mazaleni with her isiXhosa children’s book 'Amasele Amdaka' during a literacy outreach visit to Nkone Maruping Primary School in Braamfischer, Soweto.
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Miss South Africa 2025 and Empower Youth Africa (EYA) Ambassador Qhawekazi Mazaleni continued her literacy outreach programme with a visit to Nkone Maruping Primary School in Braamfischer, Soweto, on Friday March 27 2026.
Mazaleni engaged learners through a book-reading session and dialogue focused on diversity, inclusion and self-belief as part of her ongoing work under the Miss South Africa Organisation’s Empower Youth Africa initiative.
Miss SA 2025 Qhawekazi Mazaleni autographs copies of her book for learners.
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During the visit, she read from her isiXhosa children’s book Amasele Amdaka, encouraging pupils 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 engagement coincided with the school’s Diversity Celebration Day, which Mazaleni 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.
Excited learners gather around Miss South Africa 2025 Qhawekazi Mazaleni during her book-reading session at Nkone Maruping Primary School in Braamfischer.
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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 pupils, Mazaleni 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.
A high five to Miss SA 2025 Qhawekazi Mazaleni, who shares lessons on respect and inclusion as part of the school’s Diversity Celebration Day in Soweto.
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The Nkone Maruping Primary School community welcomed the visit, with educators noting the positive impact of combining literacy promotion with broader life lessons on social cohesion and mutual respect. Learners participated actively in discussions and expressed excitement at meeting Miss South Africa and taking part in a reading experience that celebrated both language and diversity.
Mazaleni’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.
Qhawekazi Mazaleni encourages pupils to embrace reading in their mother tongue during her Empower Youth Africa literacy visit to Nkone Maruping Primary School.
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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.