Thuli Madonsela, Devi Govender and Thando Thabethe to judge Miss SA!

Thuli Madonsela, Devi Govender and Thando Thabethe Join Miss SA Judges!

Photo Cred: Miss South Africa

Former South African Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, will join Devi Govender, Harnaaz Sandhu, Rolene Strauss, Suzette van der Merwe, Thando Thabethe and Zozibini Tunzi on this year’s Miss South Africa judging panel.

Johannesburg, South Africa (01 August 2022) – The judges for Miss South Africa 2022 have just been announced, and the all-female line-up comprises some of the country’s most respected and influential personalities.

Meet all the judges below:

Devi Sankaree Govender is an award-winning investigative television journalist who has spent the past 26 years in the media after starting out on radio before moving to print and television. Govender, an MBA graduate, worked for Carte Blanche for 17 years and gained a reputation for being fearless in highlighting corruption and crime. She hosts a new show titled Devi on eTV and Enca.

Harnaaz Sandhu was crowned Miss Universe last December, taking the crown back to India for the first time in 20 years. She draws her inspiration from her mother, who broke generations of patriarchy to become a successful gynaecologist. Deeply conscious of the privilege her mother’s struggles have gifted her, Sandhu is a strong advocate for women’s empowerment, particularly their constitutional rights to education, careers and their freedom of choice. She is an actor with two Punjabi films slated for release this year.

Rolene Strauss was the third South African to wear the Miss World crown. She is currently chairperson of the non-profit organisation The Strauss Foundation. Strauss – who is a qualified medical doctor – received her master’s degree in Philosophy and Management Coaching (Cum Laude) at the University of Stellenbosch this year, released her new book Reflections from the Heart and is a successful transformational life coach.

After her reign as Miss South Africa in 1990, Suzette van der Merwe started a successful business career, including a role managing Cell C’s women sponsorship properties which included a five-year headline sponsorship of Miss South Africa from 2014 to 2019.

Thando Thabethe is an actress, TV personality and radio DJ. She was the presenter of the TV show Thando Bares All on channel TLC and is currently a drivetime host on 94.7. She is Nivea’s first brand ambassador in Africa and, in 2019 was named one of Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30. She was also one of the judges who chose the Top 10 this year.

Thulisile “Thuli” Madonsela is a South African advocate and law professor who has held a chair in social justice at Stellenbosch University since January 2018. She served as the Public Protector of South Africa from 2009 to 2016. In 1996, she helped draft the final constitution of South Africa promulgated by then President Nelson Mandela.

Zozibini Tunzi was the third Miss South Africa to be crowned Miss Universe in 2019. Tunzi – who was one of the judges in 2020 – makes her acting debut in The Woman King, which is scheduled for release later this year. The American historical epic tells the remarkable story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey (in present-day Benin) in the 1800s and also stars Viola Davis and John Boyega.

Miss South Africa 2022 will take home prizes and sponsorships worth more than R3 million. The Top 10 competing for the crown are: Anarzade Omar, Ayanda Thabethe, Itumeleng Parage, Keaoleboga Nkashe, Lebogang Mahlangu, Luvé Meyer, Luyanda Zuma, Ndavi Nokeri, Pearl Ntshehi and Tamsyn Jack.

The Miss South Africa pageant, which takes place at Sun International’s flagship venue, the SunBet Arena at Time Square, Pretoria, promises to be a spectacular and entertainment-packed show and takes place during Women’s Month. Miss South Africa 2022 will be broadcast live on Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161) and Mnet (DStv Channel 101) on Saturday, August 13, from 18h30 and streamed for an international audience on the Miss South Africa app.