Palesa Matjekane, wife, mother of two and business woman. She is the reigning Mrs. South Africa since November 2022. She describes her journey as transformative and says, “the Mrs. South Africa platform is bigger than photoshoots and events.” Seven months into her reign, we ask, who is the woman wearing the crown?
Palesa Matjekane is a resilient and powered figure. She educates and empowers the youth and women. A philanthropist at heart. A woman who stands for other women. She is a businesswoman of legacy. Based in Bryanston, Johannesburg. Palesa originates from Sebokeng in the Vaal.
Palesa Matjekane has a charming eloquence of speech, an erudite mind, and a glow of positive light. It is no wonder she is set for success embarking on the emceeing and public speaking space. “I emcee for my foundation’s events and intend to explore it more.”
As the Founder and Chair of the seven year-old Women Formation Foundation – Africa. The mark for Palesa’s women empowerment history. Her Mrs. South Africa role encompassing motivating the pageant’s new semifinalists is a culmination of Palesa’s foundation’s mentorships. The foundation aligns its efforts with the United Nations’ and the African Union’s calendars.
Palesa will be rolling out the digital skills youth development campaign. “I will be sponsoring the Tsholo and Qhuweng High Schools’ students and teachers with laptops. I will equip the teacher to assist the students with resumés and university applications,” she said.
Close to Palesa’s heart is her career guidance initiative for young people. Palesa says, “I love doing career guidance at least once a month.” To grow this initiative to an annual week boot camp, Palesa is reaching out to brands that would support her course.
Palesa has business interests namely, Formation Group ICT and Maison Lisa Denim. “Formation Group ICT does marketing communications for companies in ICT,”. Maison Lisa Denim, in cognizance with the celebrate woman phenomenon, customises designs for women. “With form, shape, and size. All the issues surrounding, not just denim, but how we look as well. Maison Lisa Denim offers one-on-one image solutions.” Palesa enthused. Her fashion business acumen was honed on her Platinum Group area manager experience.
Palesa’s profile is replete with experiences like Black Management Forum’s National Marketing Manager. “I helped with creating awareness on the organisation’s initiatives and implemented strategy.” “At BRICS, I coordinated and executed events, and created awareness on what BRICS stands for.”
The name Maison Lisa derives from both the women in her life she called them her pillars of strength her mother and grandmother are both Elisabeth so Lisa in short. Her grandmother Elizabeth Makwa was aspiring to be a designer when she fell pregnant with my mother Elisa Makwa . So this Brand is a legacy of 3 phenomenal women Elizabeth Makwa the aspiring designer , Elisa Makwa business guru , and Palesa Makwa Matjekane the designer .
Palesa will be a guest at the Ga’ Mos’ Celebrate Woman’s Day event at the Madiba Hall on 29 July 2023.
Author: Basetsana Moropa