PRETORIA - Reigning Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi will return to South
Africa for her official homecoming celebration this Saturday.
The African beauty was crowned the 68th Miss Universe on December 8 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Tunzi is scheduled to embark on a week-long celebration that includes
visits to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Mthatha and the two villages she grew up in,
background:white">Tsolo and Dutywa in the Eastern Cape.
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text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:
0px">Tunzi said on Wednesday she was "thrilled" to be returning home.
“I can't wait to feel the
energy when I get back. This win hasn't just been about me, I share it with all
South Africans and I have been counting the days until I can celebrate
this achievement with my people in the spirit of Mzansi,” she said via a statement.
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Her whistle-stop visit will include official welcomes
at both OR Tambo and Mthatha airports, street parades in Mthatha, Tsolo, Cape
Town and Johannesburg. She will also be a guest of South African president Cyril Ramaphosa at his State of the Nation Address.
I’m so excited 😄😄❤️ https://t.co/NlMWWqmSMz
— Zozibini Tunzi (@zozitunzi) February 3, 2020
Tunzi will be welcomed at OR
Tambo by the Soweto Gospel Choir. She will also be received by communications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams and deputy arts and culture minister Makhotso Sotyu. She will make her way to her home village on Saturday afternoon.
“While I have been in
New York, I have longed for two things, sunshine and the voices of African
people raised in song. I cannot wait to be a part of the celebration – Eastern
Cape style – that is being planned,” she was quoted saying.
On Sunday, she is
expected to unveil a mural that has been made in her honour, followed by a visit
to her primary school on Monday, a bus parade through the streets of
Johannesburg on Thursday, and will touch base in Cape Town on Friday.