A Miss World delegation was greeted by a delighted Nkosi Mandla Mandela when the young women touched down at Mthatha Airport yesterday.
Mandla said the delegation brought with them hundreds of thousands of rands destined for a machine which will make sanitary towels for schoolgirls in the King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) municipal area.
The delegation of beauties included Miss World South Africa Thulisa Keyi of Mdantsane, Miss World 2017 Manushi Chhillar of India, the 2014 Miss SA and Miss World Rolene Strauss and 2016 Miss World Stephanie del Valle of Puerto Rico.
They were there to attend the Nelson Mandela centenary celebrations in Mvezo, and were excited to walk on the land that carries the social and cultural imprint of the world icon.
Also at the airport to welcome the beauties were their host, Mandla’s mother Nkosikazi Nolusapho Mandela, and his wife Nkosikazi Nosekeni Rabia Mandela.
“They brought with them R661000 [$50000] for a machine through Indian Akar Innovations that makes sanitary towels. This machine will be used to make sanitary towels for Mvezo’s young girls and those girls in rural areas around Mthatha and the entire KSD municipal area,” Mandla said.
The Miss World delegation flew in with Kenyan scholar Professor Patrick Lumumba, who later delivered the area’s Nelson Mandela Lecture.
Reigning Miss World Chhillar described Madiba as her role model. “He was a man with a vision and everyone in the world should look up to him. I read about him when I was growing up, and to be here on his 100th birthday is just such an honour,” she said.
“He was a man who had very forward thoughts. Even as a young person, when I listened to his speeches and read his quotes, you realised he could see the future. He gave health, equality and women’s rights priority, which is still inspiring for us today,” said the medical student.
“For me, as an aspiring doctor, he said health is a fundamental right and it should not be a person’s economic status that determines what health facilities he should get.
“We all have the same biology and health is equal.”
The beauties will be joining throngs of people, including heads of states, former presidents, scholars and traditional leaders attending the centenary celebration in Mvezo today.
The women said they would be glad to walk on the soil Madiba walked on, and shake hands with people who were once with him.
Del Valle said: “This will be a lasting memory in my life: to be at Madiba’s birthplace and be among the people of his village, the village that gave birth to a young boy who would grow up to be a world icon and advocate for peace, reconciliation and equality for all.’’
Mandla, who in 2012 was a Miss World judge, embraced the delegation as part of the bigger Mandela family.
“Miss World is the broader community we belong to. It’s not about beautiful ladies but about the commitment these ladies make in serving humanity and their upholding of Madiba’s legacy in that.”
Mandla said he had maintained strong relations with the Miss World pageant after taking over where his grandfather left off.
He added: “Their beauty is not about the outer self but the inner self, and the difference they make to people and uplift communities.”
AbaThembu acting King Azenathi Dalindyebo, his uncle Prince Mthandeni Dalindyebo, Nkosi Minenkulu Joyi and Nkosi Dumisani, Western Mpondoland King Ndamase Ndamase and his brother Prince Buhle Ndamse, as well as Nkosi and Nkosi Jongusapho Bokleni, yesterday travelled to Johannesburg for the memorial lecture. The royals said Mandela would always be close to their hearts. He had left an indelible mark on their lives as traditional leaders and had shown love and respect for the traditional leadership and rural life.
Musicians Zahara and poet and singer Mzwakhe Mbuli, who were to perform at the memorial lecture, also paid tribute to Mandela...