This has earned her the opportunity to represent South Africa at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in San Juan, Puerto Rico in November 2026. The 23-year-old received the crown from outgoing titleholder, Melissa Nayimuli after emerging victorious at the Barnyard Theatre in Pretoria on Saturday evening, July 18.

READ | Five minutes with Miss Mpumalanga 2025

The beauty queen claimed the title after making it through a competitive pageant process that consisted of 30 finalists down to nine before the grand finale. Thela’s national title is the latest milestone in a pageant journey that began at a young age. She made history as the inaugural Miss Teen Grand winner in 2021 before being crowned Miss Crowning Mpumalanga in 2024.

Reflecting on her journey in a social media post, she said her talent started with a childhood love of being in front of the camera. “What began as a passion, grew into a platform that built my confidence and taught me discipline, gave me a voice, and opened doors I never imagined,” she wrote.

Following her crowning, Thela thanked everyone who had supported her along the way saying, “To everyone who has believed in me, supported me, encouraged me, prayed for me, and stood by my side, thank you. I carry your love with me every step of this journey. I am who I am today because of God, my family, my friends, my supporters, and every person who reminded me to never stop believing.”

READ MORE | Meet Crowning Miss Mpumalanga’s Top 10 finalists

Beyond pageantry, Thela is a qualified flight attendant and model with a passion for community empowerment. She established the Mambane Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to tackling hunger, improving food security and uplifting disadvantaged communities. She now hopes to make South Africa proud when she takes to the Miss Universe stage later this year.

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According to preliminary reports, the collision occurred between an articulated truck travelling from Standerton and a sedan travelling from Perdekop.

Four occupants of the sedan, the driver and three passengers were declared dead on the scene. One passenger sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Standerton Provincial Hospital for medical attention.

READ | Five killed in Ngodwana accident

The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation. However, preliminary indications suggest that dangerous overtaking may have been a contributing factor.

The MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jackie Macie, said the number of fatal crashes on the R23 is a huge concern to the province.

READ MORE | Accident claims four lives on R23

“This stretch of road is becoming another death trap, and it means we must do more to enforce the law on the R23 and other problematic routes. Motorists must also play their part by driving safely and obeying the rules of the road,” said MEC Macie.

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READ | EFF wins Ward 11 in Nkomazi Municipality

Shongwe said he had sacrificed immensely for the party, including resigning from his permanent position as a police officer, selling his vehicles to finance party programmes, and losing his marriage in 2019 because of the extensive time he dedicated to political work. “I sacrificed everything for this organisation because I believed in its vision and mission. I resigned from my job, sold my cars to support party programmes, and eventually lost my family because the party consumed most of my time,” said Shongwe. When Mpumalanga Mirror asked whether the resignations were linked to what appeared to be a targeted witch-hunt against their collective, Shongwe did not mince his words.

“I confirm, my brother, that this is a witch-hunt because we refused to be used. As a result, I became an enemy to the favourites within the party. “I defended those who founded the EFF in Nkomazi when it was not fashionable to do so. That is why they no longer want me because I fought for comrades who deserved to be rewarded,” he said. He further alleged that the so-called “foreign tendencies” began surfacing after the arrival of certain individuals within the party structures, which, according to him, changed the political atmosphere within the organisation.

“I was raised not to name and shame individuals, but to address problems. My political upbringing taught me to confront issues and not personalities. That is why myself and the collective have decided to resign peacefully. “We are not contesting anyone ahead of the upcoming local government elections. We are simply going home to regroup, recollect, and find ourselves again,” he added. An emotional Shongwe also reflected on the personal toll politics had taken on his life.

READ MORE | ANC Mpumalanga suspends Ngrayi Ngwenya with immediate effect

“The painful part is that I lost my family in the process when my wife and I divorced. Despite all the sacrifices I made, I find myself no longer belonging. However, we have to move forward and look ahead,” he said. Former councillor, Rachel Nkomo, echoed similar sentiments, citing what she described as insensitivity from party leadership during difficult moments in her personal life.
Nkomo revealed that she recently missed a sub-regional meeting attended by a national EFF official because her child was ill and required urgent medical attention.

“I had to rush my child to hospital because I told myself I could not lose another child by prioritising politics over family. Despite informing leadership about my situation, insensitive remarks were allegedly made about my absence,” she said.
She also recounted the trauma she endured during the 2016 Local Government Elections when her son was attacked and killed while she was attending to party election duties at a hotel in White River.”

“I informed the leadership about what was happening, but I felt completely alone and unsupported. It then dawned on me that despite my loyalty and dedication to the organisation, I stood alone. I continued serving the party despite the painful experiences, but I have now realised that it is time for me to step away and resign,” said Nkomo. Shongwe further claimed that the EFF in the region had become deeply divided, alleging that some of the divisions were being fuelled by individuals who were not even card-carrying members of the party.

“Eventually, the public will see exactly what I am talking about because the truth will ultimately come out,” he concluded.
EFF’s provincial chairperson, Collen Sedibe, dismissed the claims that the former councillors had been mistreated within the party, saying their grievances stemmed from internal conference outcomes they failed to accept. “They contested the conference and lost. They never healed from that defeat and never accepted Fighter Ngrayi from the moment he joined the EFF. They became gatekeepers, and that is why the EFF never grew under their leadership,” said Sedibe.

He further alleged that disciplinary action against some of the members was already being considered due to poor performance at branch level. “In fact, we were preparing to issue suspension letters because they were no longer doing work in their branches. Since losing the conference, they have not been active. We have long known that they intended to leave and that they had been holding meetings with the ANC,” he said. Sedibe added that some members were merely “following blindly without direction”.

“They do not know what they are doing or where they are going. There is nothing wrong with working outside your branch because, as a leader, you must work with everyone. That is the principle of the organisation,” he added. He further stated that all EFF public representatives are assigned two additional branches as part of the party’s organisational programme and leadership responsibilities.

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The bail conditions by the Mpumalanga Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sitting in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court on charges of alleged fraud involving the COVID-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS).

Fumu Mkalira Cifu Msiska, a director of F & A Consulting CC, was granted bail of R300 000 yesterday. His wife, Gcuttrice Gladness Msiska, a director of Khulane Construction CC, was also granted bail of R300 000. Bongani Zoren Mkhonto, who is related to the couple, was granted bail of R3 000. According to the National Prosecuting Authority, the accused face 4 294 charges relating to fraud and money laundering.

READ | Former municipal officials arrested for fraud

The matter follows a successful application by the NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit in Mpumalanga for a restraint order exceeding R26 million against assets linked to the accused. The order was granted by the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court in terms of Section 26 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998.

It is alleged that between October 2020 and January 2021, F & A Consulting CC misrepresented information to the Unemployment Insurance Fund. The company allegedly submitted more than 700 names of individuals, falsely claiming they were employees, despite them never having worked for the company. 

READ MORE | Former immigration officer sentenced for fraud

“As a result, more than R26 million was allegedly paid out through the TERS scheme, causing significant financial prejudice to the UIF. Further investigations revealed that the funds were allegedly used to acquire movable and immovable assets valued at over R31 million. These assets reportedly include a fleet of vehicles and funds linked to the suspects’ bank accounts. Criminal investigations into the matter are ongoing,” reads the NPA statement. The case was postponed to July 20, 2026, for further investigation.

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The officers, a Sergeant and a Constable attached to Bethal Police Station, were arrested following an intelligence-driven operation by the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit.

READ | Hawks spokesperson resigns amid corruption allegations

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— Mpumalanga Mirror (@MPMirror) September 11, 2025

It is alleged that in January 2025, the police officers demanded money from a businessman who failed to produce a licence for operating a hair salon. The officers are said to have taken some cash from the victim and indicated they would return for more.
The businessman subsequently reported the matter to a member of the Community Policing Forum (CPF), who escalated it to a Senior SAPS member at the Police Station. This led to an investigation and the eventual arrest of the officers.

READ MORE | Community Safety officials arrested for R60 million corruption

The suspects are expected to appear in the Bethal Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 07 May 2026, to face charges of corruption and extortion. The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, welcomed the arrests. “The alleged actions of these members undermine the oath we took to serve and protect the public. As painful as it is to arrest our own, they must face the consequences of their actions.

“There is no place for rotten elements who betray the badge and the communities we serve. We will continue to root out criminality within our ranks without fear, prejudice, or favour, ” said the General. The SAPS maintains a zero-tolerance approach to corruption within its ranks. Any member found to be involved in criminal conduct will be dealt with decisively and in accordance with the law.

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The train has brought various healthcare services, including dental care, eye care, cancer screening, and mental healthcare services, among others. Some residents from as far as Nkomazi have decided to camp overnight due to long queues.
However, the Train Manager, Bheki Mendlula said they will try their best to assist everyone.

Interestingly, the psychology clinic has received significantly more patients this year compared to previous years, indicating that there is still much work to be done in raising mental health awareness.

READ | Tinstwalo Hospital welcomes triplets

WATCH: Health MEC Sasekani Manzini takes a walkabout in the train

“We do breast cancer screening for women and cervical cancer screening, and for males we do prostate cancer screening as well.
“Then we have eye care services, and we also have our pharmacy on board that supports these clinics. After the clinics have assessed the patients and identified what they need, prescriptions are issued and the pharmacy is able to provide the required medication.

“In terms of patient turnout, yes, there are many people who have come to access our services. However, as a contingency plan, we try to avoid having people sleep here overnight, although some still do. Others come from far areas, and by the time they arrive, the facility is already full,” said Mendlula.

READ MORE | Patients encouraged to collect medication in advance

He added that he is particularly pleased with the progress made at the psychology clinic, which communities had previously neglected because many people tend to shy away from mental health issues. However, this year the clinic has been busy.

“We’re now seeing people coming in on their own, and I think it’s because of the work we’ve been doing over the years through workshops in schools and communities, as well as educating patients about mental health.
“People are now voluntarily visiting the psychology clinic to engage with our psychologists. It is one of the things we are really happy about because we are seeing change.

“Historically, the clinic would mostly stand idle and only conduct workshops, but now you see people coming in for individual counselling and families attending counselling sessions together. Our team of psychologists and registered counsellors now has a lot more work to do, which is encouraging for us,” he said.

MEC for Health, Sasekani Manzini also visited the train and interacted with patients. She was also taken through the optometry clinic and shown the process of making spectacles. Manzini said she used to accompany her parents to the train when she was younger.

“We benefit as the department, especially because the services they are providing — such as dental care, mental healthcare, and optometry — remain a challenge for many of our people. The general primary healthcare services they are bringing here are essential. People want their eyes checked and tested, and they want spectacles.

“In Nkomazi, we have a hospital with a dedicated eye unit. As I interacted with patients, I asked them why they do not access services there. They said they are afraid. Some elderly men would rather wear glasses than undergo cataract surgery. But after speaking to one patient, he said he would consider it. Most of our patients in Tonga are elderly people, so I reassured them that there is nothing to fear,” said Manzini.

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The police released a statement stating that a case of murder is currently investigated following a gruesome incident. “An attempted robbery is equally probed,” reads the statement.

According to the police report, it is alleged that the cash-in-transit vehicle, with two security officers, was parked when a passerby proceeded to a nearby store.

RELATED ARTICLE | Man shot by policeman during robbery

“It is alleged that an armed male with a sharp object opened the passenger door and attacked the security officer seated in the driver’s seat. Some security officers became aware of what was happening and fired shots at the alleged attacker who fell to the ground. It is further alleged that the driver of the cash-in-transit vehicle subsequently drove over the man who was later certified dead at the scene.”

READ MORE | Alleged poacher shot dead

Police say the incident is being investigated and the deceased has not been formally identified. “With regards to the graphic video relating to the incident. As police we have taken note and have since urged members of the public to refrain from circulating the video. This may cause further trauma to the families of those involved and to sensitive members of the public.”

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READ | Chasing History: The journey to World Cup 2026 heats up

The Motsepe Foundation Championship winners look forward to their new journey in the top flight football league. The outfit will be joining TS Galaxy making them two teams based in Mpumalanga plying their trade in the elite league.

The club has a date with Gomora United in Limpopo this coming Sunday, May 9.

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As anticipation builds for the 2026 edition, South African fans have a renewed reason to stay engaged with the tournament, even from afar. Opportunities have emerged for supporters to connect more closely with the competition, including the chance to witness the decisive stages live.

READ | Rising star set to raise Mpumalanga flag high at nationals

The semi-finals of the World Cup represent one of the most intense phases in international football, where the final four teams battle for a place in the showpiece final. For players, it is the culmination of years of discipline and sacrifice; for fans, it is football at its most dramatic.

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The iconic World Cup trophy remains the ultimate symbol of achievement in the sport. Lifting it signifies the pinnacle of a footballer’s career, where preparation meets opportunity on the grandest stage.

READ MORE | Football legend Siyabonga Nomvethe empowers youngsters in coaching clinic

While the tournament will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, global fan engagement continues to grow, ensuring that supporters worldwide remain part of the experience. In South Africa, interactive platforms and fan-driven competitions are helping bridge the distance, allowing supporters to participate in the excitement and unpredictability that defines World Cup football.

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At its core, the World Cup is more than just a tournament—it is a celebration of competition, resilience and the pursuit of excellence. Whether on the pitch or in the stands, the spirit of the game belongs to those who show up, support and believe.

Carling Black Label, the official beer of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Africa, has opened a once in a lifetime competition that gives Champion fans an opportunity to experience the semi-finals LIVE.

To enter, Champions Fans can sign-up on www.carlingpredictor.com. You can also purchase a limited-edition promotional pack, available in store now in 750ml returnable bottles and 500ml cans, and follow the directions to register on www.carlingpredictor.com or by dialling *120*660#.

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The Do’s

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— Mpumalanga Mirror (@MPMirror) March 19, 2026

Immediate First Aid

• Cool the Burn: As soon as a water burn occurs, run cool (not cold) water over the affected area for at least 1 – 2 minutes. This helps to reduce the temperature of the skin, stop the burning process, and relieve pain. A gentle stream of water from a faucet or a clean container can be used. For smaller burns, a cool, wet compress can also be applied.
• Remove Tight Items: If the burn is on an area where there are tight – fitting items such as rings, bracelets, or clothing, carefully remove them as soon as possible. Swelling can occur rapidly after a burn, and these items can restrict blood flow and cause further damage.
• Cover the Burn: After cooling the burn, cover it with a clean, non – sticking bandage or a piece of plastic wrap. This helps to protect the burn from infection and reduces pain by preventing air from reaching the sensitive skin. Make sure the covering is loose and does not put pressure on the burn.
• Seek Medical Attention: For burns that are larger than the size of a child’s palm, involve the face, hands, feet, genitals, or major joints, or if the burn appears deep (the skin is charred, white, or leathery), seek immediate medical help. Even for smaller burns, if there are signs of infection such as increasing pain, redness, swelling, or discharge, consult a doctor.

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The Dont’s

First Aid Mistakes

• Don’t Use Ice: Avoid using ice directly on the burn. Ice can cause further damage to the skin by reducing blood flow and causing frostbite. Stick to cool water for the initial treatment.
• Don’t Apply Butter, Oil, or Other Home Remedies: Contrary to popular belief, applying butter, oil, toothpaste, or other substances to a burn is not recommended. These can trap heat in the burn, increase the risk of infection, and make it more difficult for medical professionals to assess the burn.
• Don’t Pop Blisters: Blisters are a natural way for the body to protect the underlying skin. Popping blisters can increase the risk of infection and slow down the healing process. If a blister breaks on its own, clean the area gently with mild soap and water and cover it with a bandage.

Long – Term Risks

• Don’t Ignore Follow – up Care: After a burn has been treated, it’s important to follow the doctor’s instructions for follow – up care. This may include applying prescribed creams, changing dressings regularly, and attending follow – up appointments. Ignoring these instructions can lead to complications such as infection, scarring, and poor healing.

By being aware of these do’s and don’ts, we can take proactive steps to prevent paediatric water burns and provide appropriate care when they do occur. Remember, the safety and well – being of our children are in our hands, and a little knowledge can go a long way in preventing these painful and potentially life – altering

Prevention Is Key

• Always test bath water before placing a child in it
• Keep hot drinks and pots out of reach
• Turn pot handles inward on the stove

Final Message
Paediatric water burns are preventable and manageable when handled correctly. Quick action, the right first aid, and avoiding common mistakes can significantly reduce complications and improve healing.

For more health tips:
TikTok & Instagram: @Inkosi_yodokotela
Facebook: Sifiso Nxumalo
WhatsApp & Call: 062 831 4023

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