Muni gives R100 000 for pageant

THE Mopani District Municipality will set aside R100 000 for next year’s Miss Mopani Beauty Pageant.

Mopani mayor, Joshua Matlou, announced this planned cash injection when he spoke at the inaugural Miss Mopani Beauty Pageant that was held at the Nkowankowa community hall last Sunday.

Matlou assured the organiser of the pageant of his support saying, “We gave you R10 000 tonight for the winners of this pageant, but next year, as executive mayor, I am going to fund the beauty pageant with R100 000”.

Matlou was accompanied by members of the ANC Youth League in the region, led by Jaquas Maffa the convener of the regional task team.

The league bought a VIP table at the event and also assisted in staging the event.

Millet Nhlungwane from Lulekani township in the Ba-Phalaborwa municipality was crowned queen of Mopani on the night.

The search for Miss Mopani started late last year, with the organisers staging auditions in all the five local municipalities of Mopani.

When asked by judges who amongst her fellow contestant did not deserve to be crowned, Millet responded: “We all managed to be here. We all managed to step to the stage to show you what we have behind us, so I don’t think there are any of us who do not deserve to win.”

Millet walked away with prize money of R5 000, a bursary worth R50 000 from Boston City College, and she will sign a one-year contract as a presenter at Greater Tzaneen FM. She will also spend a night at Ingwe Lodge at Phalaborwa.

The first runner-up, Felicia Masedi, received a cash prize of R3 000, while the second runner-up, Lovedale Mathonsi received R2 000 cash prize.

The event was sponsored by Coca-Cola, Greater Tzaneen FM, Boston City College, MTN, Passion Design and L.R. Mabunda Attorneys.

The organiser of the pageant, Brian Mhangwani from Mpangele Entertainment, thanked the sponsors for their support.

“Next year we will deliver an even better show with the support from these brands and Mopani District Municipality coming on board.”