So, it’s official. Miss SA has shared the names of the women who’ll fight for the crown this year, and the miss south africa 2026 finalists are finally out. The big night is 14 November in Sandton, and the countdown has started.
Who Made the Top 12?
The organisers released the list on 28 October 2026, in alphabetical order by first name. Here are the twelve women:
- Alia Khan Koumantarakis
- Amogelang Bunu
- Bonolo Marang Motau
- Cwenga Koyana Kotu Rammopo
- Katlego Malebye
- Lesego Khumo Nyathela
- Makhosazana Azana Masango
- Ndivanga Muravha
- Palesa van Rooyen
- Simone Nonhlanhla Tshituka
- Tiyani Makamu
- Zoalize Jansen Van Rensburg
Only one of them will walk away as the next Miss South Africa. But the other eleven won’t leave empty handed, and we’ll get to that in a moment.
How the Road to Twelve Unfolded
This race has been going for a few months now. In June, the organisation named a Top 24 and opened public voting. Then on 19 August, TV host Minnie Dlamini revealed the Top 19 during a live broadcast on the Miss SA YouTube pages. Now the group has been trimmed down again.
According to the organisers, the selection had several steps. They looked at leadership potential, how well each woman communicates, her purpose and the social impact she can make. So it’s about much more than standing on a stage looking good.
A few of these women already had stories worth telling. Back in the Top 24 round, Alia Khan Koumantarakis was introduced as a 21 year old filmmaker and author from KwaZulu Natal. She has talked openly about living with dyslexia and wants more young storytellers to get access to books. Cwenga Koyana Kotu Rammopo, 27, from Gauteng, is a social entrepreneur and co founder of Talitha Together, a group that supports teenage mothers across Southern Africa. Then there’s Amogelang Bunu, also 27, a speech therapist from Mabopane. Keep in mind these ages and details were shared earlier in the contest, so some may have changed since then.
Finale Date, Venue and How to Watch
Mark your calendar for Saturday, 14 November 2026. The 68th Miss South Africa finale will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
There’s a change this year. For the past four years, the show was held at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria. Now it’s moving to Joburg. Some fans are happy about the fresh setting, while others say they’ll miss the old arena.
Here’s the quick version:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, 14 November 2026 |
| Venue | Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg |
| TV broadcast | Mzansi Magic, DStv channel 161 |
| Start time | 19:30 |
| Ticket prices | From R450 |
| Ticket outlets | Ticketpro and House of Nala (Sandton City and Oceans Mall) |
Want to be in the room? You can book through the official Ticketpro event page. Prefer your couch? Just tune in to Mzansi Magic. It’s an easy way to catch every moment without leaving home.
Who Will Be on the Stage?
Actor and presenter Lawrence Maleka will host the evening with former Miss South Africa Jo-Ann Strauss. The current queen, Qhawekazi Mazaleni, will pass on her crown at the end. She’s a speech therapist from the Eastern Cape and holds the Miss South Africa 2025 title.
Five judges will decide the winner. Professor Thuli Madonsela, the advocate many South Africans know as a former Public Protector, leads the panel. She’ll be joined by Natasha Vermaak, Miss South Africa 2023, TV personality and doctor Musa Mthombeni, and chartered accountant Pumla Molope. That’s a nice mix of law, medicine, money and pageant experience, so the debate behind closed doors should be interesting.
More Than a Crown: Empower Youth Africa
Here’s the part that sets this year apart. All twelve women will become ambassadors for Empower Youth Africa, or EYA for short. It’s the impact platform at the centre of the Miss South Africa organisation.
EYA works around five pillars:
- Technology and digital inclusion
- Entrepreneurship and enterprise development
- Education and skills for the future
- Health and wellness
- Civic leadership and Pan African collaboration
The idea is simple. Through these areas, the finalists help build programmes and partnerships that give young people more chances to learn, work and grow.
The organisers also stress that every finalist can champion a worthy cause, whether she wins or not. That tells you a lot about where the pageant wants to go. It wants to be seen as a leadership platform, not just a beauty contest.
A Different Direction for Miss SA
This year feels different, and not only because of the new venue. Earlier reports said the organisation gave up its licences for Miss Universe and Miss Supranational, and former Miss South Africa Bokang Montjane later took them over. Reports also say the miss south africa 2026 winner won’t compete on an international stage.
Instead, the focus has shifted to finding young women who want to create real change in South Africa and across the continent. Dr Precious Moloi Motsepe, the organisation’s patron and chairperson, has called it an era of leadership.
The theme for the year is Imbokodo, a word that stands for strength and resilience. It carries a clear message. Leadership isn’t only about what you achieve for yourself. It’s about the value you create for others.
Follow the Journey Before the Finale
If you’d like to know these women better before the big night, there’s a simple way to do it. The documentary series The Mandate follows the contestants through personal stories, leadership tasks and business challenges. You get to see the pressure, the growth and the moments that don’t make it to the stage.
For updates and official news, visit the Miss South Africa website.
What Happens Next
Over the next two weeks, expect plenty of chatter online. Fans will pick their favourites, and the finalists will keep building their public profiles. On the night itself, the audience is expected to include people from business, government, media, sport and the creative world.
For now, the miss south africa 2026 finalists are locked in and the stage is waiting. One woman will take the title home. But all twelve have a chance to show South Africa what young leadership looks like.
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