Miss SA secretive about her future plans for fear of her ideas being stolen

26 May 2016 - 16:53 By Roxanne Henderson

For Ntandoyenkosi Kunene‚ the Miss South Africa pageant is not the ceiling - she has something big up her sleeve‚ but you'll have to wait until after her reign to hear the details. Kunene was at the Union Buildings on Thursday for the Minister for Women in the Presidency Susan Shabangu's “Take a girl child to work” event‚ hosting 60 Gauteng schoolgirls.When asked about her future plans‚ Kunene remained somewhat secretive:“What is next for me is starting my own thing‚ where I am able to say‚ 'Ntando is running one‚ two and three'‚ and I am contributing to South Africa.“It's an idea of mine and I feel like if I put it out there someone will steal it because they haven't done it. I'm keeping quiet about it and you guys have to wait 'til after my reign‚” she said.Kunene‚ who is passionate about education and is a qualified teacher‚ will share her journey to becoming Miss SA with the students.She said that she was glad to be at the event‚ which commemorates the 60th anniversary of the 1956 women's march to the Union Buildings‚ demanding the abolition of pass laws.“It's a symbol that as women we are never alone. And there's a nice line from Maya Angelou's poem that clearly says what is happening today – that 'I come as one but I stand as 10‚000'.“It's [due to] the strength of those women that were are able to enjoy this today‚ that girls are able to head up organisations‚ that they are able to be engineers‚ be doctors‚ and they're not restricted because they are women‚” she said.Kunene's adoring fans‚ the schoolgirls‚ remained close to her during the event‚ snatching up every opportunity to ask her questions and pose for photos.Zanele Swaedi‚ 17‚ from Mamelodi High School‚ said‚ “It was a great honour to meet her. She's a great inspiration. I enjoyed every moment with her. She's so kind and polite.”..

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.