Miss South Africa 2023 top 12 announced

This year’s top 12 Miss South Africa 2023 finalists have been announced.

The 2023 winner will be crowned at Sun International’s flagship venue, the SunBet Arena at Time Square, Pretoria on Sunday, August 13. It promises to be a spectacular and entertainment-packed show and will fittingly take place during Women’s Month.

They are Ané Oosthuysen, Anke Rothmann, Bryoni Govender, Homba Mazaleni, Jordan van der Vyver, Keaoleboga Nkashe, Lebohang Raputsoe, Levern Donnatella José, Lungo Katete, Melissa Nayimuli, Nande Mabala and Natasha Joubert.

The contestants represent five provinces- Gauteng has five (including two from the Vaal Triangle and one from Tshwane), followed by the Western Cape, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape with two each while the North West boasts one finalist. They are an impressive group and include a lawyer, a sport scientist, a pharmacist and a four-time graduate, who has degrees in psychology and medical sociology.

The winner of the People’s Vote was Lungo Katete from Midrand, who has a master’s degree in architecture from the University of the Witwatersrand. 

ALSO READ: The search is on for Miss South Africa 2023

The Miss South Africa’s top 12 finalists are (in alphabetical order):

Ané Oosthuysen (25), from Vanderbijlpark, Vaal Triangle in Gauteng, is a primary school teacher and a four-time graduate with degrees in psychology and medical sociology. 

Anke Rothmann (23) is a pharmacist intern representing the Northern Cape. She obtained her bachelor of pharmacy degree from the North West University in Potchefstroom. 

Bryoni Govender (26) is from Kempton Park in Gauteng and is a qualified lawyer working as a trainee associate while awaiting admission to become an attorney. 

Homba Mazaleni (23), from Gonubie, East London in the Eastern Cape, is a qualified sports scientist and student intern at the University of the Western Cape. She pursued Biokinetics to help people recover from injuries and sickness, and it gives her great satisfaction to help them gain the tools they need to pursue their own goals and passions. 

Jordan van der Vyver (27), from Durbanville, Western Cape, is a model and businesswoman who recently embarked on an entrepreneurial journey as the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of an online pioneering platform. She aims to provide aspiring individuals with invaluable insights, expert advice and comprehensive resources. Her prime concern is cultivating an inclusive society.

Keaoleboga Nkashe (27), from Itsoseng in the North West, is an educator, student and model. She describes herself as a lifelong learner with a great sense of humour that connects people. She is an inclusion activist, who is passionate about the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community and the rights of children. 

Lebohang Raputsoe (24) is from Sharpeville, Vereeniging in Gauteng, and works as an HR practitioner. She is registered as an HR professional with SABPP and holds a master’s degree in human resources management and degrees in industrial psychology and labour relations management. 

Levern Donnatella José (23), from Kimberley in the Northern Cape, is a candidate property practitioner, a BCom law student at Eduvos Pretoria and an entrepreneur.

Lungo Katete (26) from Midrand in Johannesburg, Gauteng, is a creative at heart with a flair for all things design. This led her to achieve her bachelor’s, honours and master’s degree in architecture from the University of the Witwatersrand. She was the People’s Vote winner.

Melissa Nayimuli (27) from Butterworth in the Eastern Cape, was born in a multi-cultural home to a Xhosa mother and Ugandan father. She is a passionate storyteller and currently works as a television and film creative producer in Johannesburg. 

Nande Mabala (25), from Zwelethemba, Worcester in the Western Cape, is a model, micro-influencer, philanthropist and a triple major BA arts graduate. 

Natasha Joubert (25), from Tshwane in Gauteng, is a BCom marketing management graduate and is the owner and fashion designer of Natalia Jefferys, a company she started when she was 19.  

Viewers will get to meet the top 12 finalists in Crown Chasers, a full-blown and thrilling TV show, revealing the Miss South Africa competition as it’s never been seen before. In the five x 60-minute series, those competing for the crown will be placed in real-life Miss South Africa scenarios that include several challenges, based on the four pillars of Miss South Africa- duty, championship, empowerment and beauty. 

The selection panel who selected the top 12 are former Miss South Africa title holder, Bokang Montjane-Tshabalala (2010), who has served before as a judge; Nobukhosi Nkosi, the award-winning fashion designer and stylist, who is the brains behind the brand, Khosi Nkosi and CEO of the Miss South Africa Organisation, Stephanie Weil.