Miss SA Shudu hadzo graduates
J OHANNESBURG Miss Sout h Afr i c a 2 0 2 0 Shuduf h a d z o Musida graduated on Tuesday with a BA Honours in International Relations from the University of the Witwatersrand.
The graduation ceremony was held virtually due to the COVID19 pandemic. However, Shudufhadzo was a guest of the Wits Vicechancellor, Professor Zeblon Vilakazi.
There were celebratory whoops of joy accompanied by tears of happiness as Shudufhadzo received her degree in the same week that she celebrated her birthday. Shudufhadzo explained how the day was the culmination of a dream that her beloved great grandmother had f or her: “Growing up i n HaMasia, deep in the heart of Vhembe District in Limpopo, my gogo always stressed that education was a fundamental stepping stone to success. How proud she would have been of me, her little Abi ( I was known as Abigail as a child), who has earned this university degree.”
Shudufhadzo also has a Bachelor of Social Science Degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Pretoria.
Professor Vilakazi was keen to hear her views on mental health and learn about the initiatives she has undertaken during her reign as Miss South Africa.
Shudufhadzo is a wellknown advocate for mental health awareness and this year launched her online mental health initiative # Mindful Mondays, in conjunction with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group ( SADAG) and Discovery Vitality, on her Instagram platform @ shudufhadzomusida.
Musida also explained that empowerment and leadership formed the cornerstone of the Miss South Afri c a Organi - sation.
“Women are guided through t h e p r o c e s s o f f i n d i n g a n d amplifying their voice so that they can empower other women and assume leadership positions,” she said.
Asked f or her opi ni on on a c t i v e c i t i z e n s h i p , s h e d e - scribed how she had recently addressed the United Nations Generation Equality Forum, d i s c u s s i n g i s s u e s o f men - t al health during t he global launch of the ‘ Education Plus’ Joint Initiative, set up to empower adolescent gi r l s and young women in subSaharan Africa t o confront t he HIV epidemic.
As the reigning Miss South Africa 2020, Musida will be participating in the 70th edition of the Miss World pageant to be held on December 16, 2021 at the CocaCola Music Hall in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Rolene Strauss, who took the title in 2014.