GEORGE NEWS - An NMU forestry student, Nomathemba Sikhakhane, has her eye on the Miss Eagle South Africa 2018 beauty title and is throwing her weight into fundraising in order to qualify.
"I have been working with Cupcakes 4 Kids with Cancer and am planning to work with more charities. Inspiring everyone around me is the most valuable activity I have done so far.
"Miss Eagle South Africa 2018 beauty pageant is a platform which made me realise that each and every small action you do for your community counts. It doesn't matter if the public witnesses that or not.
"What counts is the love and passion you are putting in to help an individual, groups and your community as a whole," she says.
During the beauty pageant, the Miss Eagle South Africa 2018 foundation does a fundraising drive for an orphanage haven as part of a long-term project, in which she plans to be involved.
"Many charities around South Africa are benefiting from Miss Eagle South Africa 2018, since in each province hundreds of Eagles are selected to improve their communities."
Neglected forests
Asked what she would do about the overgrown state forests that present a fire danger to the George community, she replied, "As a forestry student, I believe that the neglected state forests of George can be very useful to the George community, South Africa and even worldwide, since forest products contribute a lot to the world's GDP.
"The fourth phase of forest establishment in South Africa states that the state had promised to give back or sell their forests to private forest owners by the year 2000, but the state still owns some forest plantation, including timber dollar.
Nomathemba wants to be the next Miss Eagle South Africa. The public can vote for her by SMSing NOMATHEMBA to 35334. SMSes cost R3 (free SMSes do not apply). Votes are unlimited.
"George's neglected forests could make a huge difference to the George economy.
"The George community has to communicate with the state to find out if these forests can be used by the George community for the community.
"There are a lot of steps and laws that need to be complied with in order to convert the George neglected forests and allow for utilisation and for production."
Vote
Nomathemba, or "Foxygirl" as she is also known, is eager to tackle the Miss Eagle challenge.
"Right now I need to move up to the next level, the semi-final, and the public can vote for me," she says.
She can be followed on Instagram: @Nomathemba Sikhakhane_ MESA2018 and on Facebook: Nomathemba Sikhakhane Miss Eagle South Africa 2018 Brand Ambassador.
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