NOKUTHULA BOUNCES BACK AS MISS DEAF DIRECTOR

Swaziland Deaf Association Director Makhosini Makhubu stresses a point. Sitting next to him is Nokuthula Mbatha. (Pic: Nhlanhla Mathunjwa)

MBABANE – Former Miss Deaf Beauty Pageant Director Nokuthula Mbatha has bounced back as the director of the pageant.

Mbatha resigned from the position last May after her working relationship with the Swaziland National Council of Arts and Culture (SNCAC) and the Swaziland Beauty Pageants Association (SBPA) went sour.

Return

Her return to be in charge of the pageant comes after successful negotiations between herself and the Swaziland Deaf Association (SDA).
The negotiations began a month ago and were concluded early this week where Mbatha agreed to return to direct the pageant.  She has since been asked to make sure she hosts a successful Miss Deaf 2014/2015, no later than September, this year.

Mbatha’s return was confirmed by Makhosini Makhubu, Director of the Deaf Association, who said they have agreed with Mbatha to continue being in charge of the pageant. Makhubu, who visited the Times of Swaziland’s Offices accompanied by an interpreter said they were happy as an association that Mbatha agreed when they asked her to direct the pageant.

“For us as an association, we believe the pageant was a good initiative. After Mbatha resigned, no one bothered to see to it that the pageant continues.  It was sad for us and, after several discussions, we thought it would be fair for us to negotiate with Mbatha,” he said.
Makhubu said when they first spoke to Mbatha she did not want to entertain them but as the negotiations continued she then considered their request.

“As an association, we do not want to talk about things of the past. What we want to say today is that Mbatha is back and we have asked her to host the pageant at least by September. We believe the pageant is important and has the potential of being one of the country’s best pageants. Mbatha has shown the potential of making it big and it is for this reason why we have asked her to continue with it,” he said.

Makhubu said they would be informing the SNCAC about their decision as an association.
“We respect the SNCAC and we will formally inform them about our decision soon after our Board meeting, scheduled for March 14. We will state all the reasons that made us take such a decision,” he said.
Mbatha confirmed having agreed to return to the pageant, saying this was because she so believed in the people living with disability.

Mandate

“Although it was not easy, but because of the love for the deaf community, I had to return. I have been given a mandate of making sure that the pageant is held before September. I will be working towards that. I have told them that I do not want to be disturbed as I want the pageant to be the best and they have promised to give me all the support,” she said.

Tony Dlamini, SBPA President, refused to entertain questions regarding Mbatha’s return.
 “Angitikhulumi tindzaba taka Miss Deaf (I do not talk about issues that concern Miss Deaf),” he said.

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