On Mandela Day, South African media personality and entrepreneur Minnie Dlamini took a moment to share a deeply personal story that continues to inspire her journey — her unforgettable meeting with Nelson Mandela at the tender age of 12.
In an Instagram post titled “Story time…”, Minnie reflected on the determination it took to make her childhood dream a reality. Driven by the knowledge that winners of Miss South Africa and Little Miss South Africa often had the opportunity to meet uTata, she set her sights on winning the national crown — and did just that.
“I competed in every pageant I could find,” she wrote. “I trained and worked on my walk, stage presence and of course my interview skills, until I won the title in 2002.” That same year, Minnie made history as the first Durbanite to win Little Miss South Africa and was honoured with the Mayor’s Award of Excellence by then Durban Mayor, Obed Mlaba.
But Minnie didn’t stop there.Seeing her moment, she urged the mayor to help her fulfil her next goal: meeting Nelson Mandela. Mlaba advised her to write a letter detailing her journey — and that letter made its way to Madiba’s office.What followed was a once-in-a-lifetime invitation for Minnie, her mother, and her younger brother to visit Mandela at his Houghton home.
“I remember him being so attentive in conversation and told me many stories,” Minnie recalled. “He treated me like an equal and not a little kid… I of course didn’t stop yapping and told all my stories as well as how much he inspired me.”
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In a full-circle moment, she even got to ask the very question that had clinched her the title of Little Miss SA — though she’s saving that part of the story for a future book.
“For now, that moment lives beautifully in my memory and heart,” she wrote. “This is a story about determination and unshakeable drive, that I always bring to the fore whenever I feel like I can’t do something or my back is against the wall.”
Images: Minnie Dlamini via Instagram
