Thandeka Xekiso, an accomplished information technology (IT) qualification holder, is also a professional and aspiring pageant competitor born and bred in Welkom.
She has been chosen as one of the 15 finalists in the Miss South Africa Heritage pageant.
Her entry into this prestigious competition stems from its commitment to inclusivity and empowerment Z a vision deeply aligned with her values.
Xekiso believes pageantry is more than a display of beauty – it is a platform for empowering and uplifting others, aligning perfectly with her desire to make a meaningful difference in her community.
Xekiso is a Welkomite and attended the Reitzpark Primary School, and later the Welkom High School. After school, she enrolled at the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, at the Bloemfontein campus. There she excelled and earned both a diploma (Cum Laude) and advanced diploma in IT.
Her career began during her studies at the CUT when a supportive female lecturer recognised her potential and hired Xekiso as an assistant lecturer.
This position deepened her love for mentoring.
She later expanded her campus involvement by working as a computer lab assistant, where she continued to support fellow students.
Xekiso says her journey into the world of pageantry began somewhat unexpectedly when she entered the Miss Lejweleputswa pageant in 2020, where she won the title of second runner-up.
This experience ignited her passion for pageantry, highlighting its potential to impact the community positively.
“This showed me a different side of the world of beauty and glam,” she says.
Currently, Xekiso serves as a system administrator within the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) department of the Matjhabeng Local Municipality, where she plays a vital role in maintaining and enhancing technology infrastructure.
