[VIDEO] Dr Nkhumeleni’s partnership empowers women, impacts lives

POLOKWANE – The Miss and Mrs Township South Africa is a beauty pageant and empowerment programme that was established by former Mrs South Africa finalist, Koketso Makua, in December 2019.

The pageant is dedicated to equipping young and married women from townships, with necessary tools to become leaders that will serve their communities.

“They will serve their communities by not only giving back, but through entrepreneurial innovation directly aimed at tackling the high unemployment rate in townships,  eradicating poverty and self-reliance,” according to a statement by Makua.

Dr Solly Nkhumeleni through his orthodontic practice; Dr Nkhumeleni Incorporated (DNI), partnered with the pageant this year to help the organisation grow.

“The contribution allowed for extensive marketing campaign by which we hosted national roadshows. We had eight out of the nine provinces represented and kicked off with near 50 contestants and through a process of continuous elimination, crowned our two winners and their runner-up’s,” she explained.

Makua said the collaboration with DNI and other sponsors had a big impact.

“We have managed to distribute 5 000 packs of Eternity Sanitary Pads to more than 866 teenage girls in rural communities across South Africa. The collaboration saw 48 young and married women undergo a rigorous empowerment programme, in which some have gone on to launch businesses, NPO’s and received partnerships as a direct result of the program,” Makua added.

The programmes ensured that these women gain skills such as presentation, public speaking, communication and brand development.

“We also ensured that over 100 homeless people were fed during lockdown and donated 100 Santa boxes to orphanages and preschools. His continued contribution will ensure the growth and stability of the organisation, thus ensuring that more lives are impacted and empowered,” she concluded.