Miss Unity SA finalist Buhle Nkabinde hopes to lead by example

Located South of Johannesburg, and at the heart of Soweto, Zola is often associated with a high crime rate and making the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Buhle Nkabinde, a young woman from this notorious township is hoping to change lives and the stereotypes about her neighbourhood through her charity work.

“I believe in the power of a community, that if one person can do good then other people can join. Unfortunately, our community is known for negative things and it’s up to us to change that and show the positive of Zola,” she said.

Nkabinde, is not just all talk and no action. The 22-year-old is involved in several community-building initiatives around Zola. She works as a volunteer at Zola clinic, collects clothing to be donated to the underprivileged, and works at an after-school learners’ programme that helps kids with their school work.

“I have been fortunate enough to e a part of all these projects. I enjoy every minute of it and I am grateful to have been given the opportunity. I aim to help people, but also to inspire people to stand up and make a difference,” she added.

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Matshepo Rampete, Founder and Director of Matshepo & Friends – an after-school learners’ programme – said she was pleased to have had Nkabinde work with them.

“She’s (Nkabinde) been helping us for a long time now, it’s not something she just started doing recently. The kids here really love working with her and sometimes when I’m not able to, she comes around and takes over, helping the kids with their home works, public speaking, and a lot more,” said Rampete.

Nkabinde is currently a finalist for the 2021 Miss Unity SA pageantry and said the journey has taught her more lessons than she ever expected.

“It has been an educational journey more than anything. It has opened my eyes to the problems facing society and the responsibility I have in playing my role as part of the solution. I have also developed skills such as better public speaking,” she said.

On long-term goals, she would like to see herself as Miss South Africa. This, she said, would give her a much wider platform to help – not just the Zola community, but the country as a whole. In the meantime, however, she is fully focused on leading by example and inspiring the community of Zola.