Mom in running for Mrs South Africa

THE atmosphere was electric at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park last month as the Schwarzkopf Professional Mrs South Africa top 100 semi-finalists were announced, with the gorgeous Tshegofatso Mathe from Aspen being announced as one of the top 100 semi-finalists.

The wife of Dr Moeketsi Mathe and mother to four beautiful children is a former Mondeor matriculant who studied tourism management at Wits University and has since worked for Expeditors International and UTi Freight and has fulfilled her long-standing dream of being a flight attendant. Thereafter she fell pregnant with her firstborn, Thabo Mathe, who, sadly, died after three months.

“I always say I have four children because although Thabo is not with us he will always be my child and I will always be his mother. We celebrate his birthday and all my children know him as their big brother,” said Mathe.

The firm believer in “family comes first” has her hands full with her three blessings, Tidimalo Mathe (6), Tshegofatso Junior Mathe (4) and Tshenono Mathe (2).

Mathe is the founder of the High Tea Society, a forum for women who are passionate about success. High Tea Society aims to make a positive impact in the lives of people by grooming young girls and boys to become the empowered men and women of tomorrow.

“I believe in giving back to the community, hence at each High Tea event a different charity is supported. I also run recycling projects in partnership with four schools. I personally collect recyclables from the schools and with those funds I give back to the school in the form of supplying the needs of the school, from stationery to bin bags,” she said.

Mathe is passionate about the youth and is involved with Girls and Boys in Entrepreneurship, where she takes part in mentoring young girls and boys between the ages of 10 and 25 on entrepreneurship at their winter and summer camps. Mathe also volunteers in a netball community project with the youth in Meadowlands, Soweto, where she grew up.

“I dreamt of becoming Miss Teen or Miss South Africa, but was discouraged due to the height restrictions at the time. I have been given a second chance to make a difference in the lives of many and be a true ambassador to the Mrs South Africa brand and South Africa,” Mathe said.

“I am doing this for so many people and it is about giving married women hope and making the public aware that our children are intelligent and they are our future. This is bigger than the crown and I am overwhelmed by the support I have received. All you have to do is believe you can do it and surround yourself with positive people. If you can dream it, you can live it,” she said.

Tshegofatso Mathe is expecting to enjoy her reign as a semi-finalist and use her influence to raise funds for charity during the next month in anticipation of the top 25 finalist’s announcement at the Cansa Gala Dinner on April 29, 2016. Mathe is sponsored by Girls in Entrepreneurship and Sasol in Columbine. You can vote for Tshegofatso Mathe by going onto the Mrs South Africa Facebook page, liking it and then liking her picture.