Ndiwanga Muravha (22) first arrived in the Lowveld from Johannesburg in 2022 looking for a deeper connection with nature through her agricultural studies at the University of Mpumalanga (UMP).
Four years later, she has not only found a home in the Lowveld, but established a launchpad for an advocacy mission for youth development in digital skills.
Read: Local models in Mpumalanga earn spots in Miss African Beauty South Africa 2026
Following a recent major announcement that brings her steps closer to achieving her dreams, Muravha admitted that being a Miss SA 2026 top 24 cohort feels surreal.
Read also: Young pageant star Siyamthanda inspired by Miss Universe
She said being part of Miss SA is a childhood dream that developed watching determined changemakers participate on the platform from a TV screen.
“It means my work is now being viewed globally rather than just locally,” she said while aiming to leverage this newfound international visibility to build connections that will amplify her advocacy.
While her academic passion lies in agriculture, Muravha’s community focus is firmly planted in the future and innovation. She said she recognised the devastating impact of youth unemployment and limited educational access, prompting her to establish Crimson Creative, which is an initiative dedicated to equipping young people with essential digital skills, mentorship, and future-focused opportunities.
She hosts free digital skills webinars and mentorship programmes to actively bridge South Africa’s digital divide and boost youth employability. “The ultimate goal is to establish Crimson Creative as a leading African hub for digital innovation and business creation. I want young people to do away with just being customers and consumers and instead become starters and entrepreneurs,” she said.
According to Muravha, she started Crimson Creative after realising she could create a sustainable platform that did not require capital.
Her local impact is bolstered by her role in project management at Charged Up Entrepreneurship Africa Network, an organisation that drives innovation and business development across the continent.
Moreover, her worldview has been enriched by international exposure, having represented South Africa on an Entrepreneurship Study Tour to Ireland in 2025 and participating in the South Africa-Germany Connect & Act Youth Exchange Programme in 2024.
Muravha is also no stranger to the pageant scene. She is the former Miss Boksburg Public Choice 2021, Miss UMP Mbombela Campus 2022 and UMP’s 2022 Arts and Culture Performer of the Year.
As she prepares for the next chapter of her journey toward the national crown, she hopes this lifelong dream will open doors and to never stop betting on herself. “What have I got to lose?” she said.
Her success in the competition is now in the hands of the public.
To vote for her, visit the Miss South Africa website or download the official app. Voting closes at midnight on July 6.
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Bongani Mashisane
www.citizen.co.za
