In a mission to share her story and give back, Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters joined Cell C staff in partnership with the Mitchell’s Plain Police Station and the local community policing forum to host a self-defence class for select volunteers in the precinct.
Nel-Peters arrived back on South African soil on Wednesday 24 January and has since been travelling to various communities in the country as part of her homecoming.
She visited Mitchell’s Plain as part of this initiative on Saturday in a bit to promote her #Unbreakable project, which aims to empower women to say no to abuse.
“It gives them the knowledge of being able to defend themselves, should it ever be necessary,” says police spokesperson, Captain Ian Williams.
Nel-Peters was joined by mayor Patricia de Lille, who was also the guest speaker.
De Lille highlighted that women have a great role to play in influencing the attitudes of society, often through how women as mothers treat their sons and daughters differently. Brigadier Cass Goolam, Mitchell’s Plain Police Station commander, also supported the event.
Nel-Peters hosted Unbreakable workshops with residents in both Soweto and Cape Town.
She is also set to revisit victims of the Knysna fires who were beneficiaries of her fundraising efforts for disaster relief in 2017.
Nel-Peters says she is thrilled to officially return home: “I can’t begin to express my gratitude and how proud I am to represent our country as Miss Universe. Being a global ambassador is as much a responsibility as it is an honour. Our nation is comprised of many different backgrounds and cultures – one of the many things that make me immensely proud to be a South African. I am very excited to celebrate this achievement with my people in the spirit of Mzansi.”