Mayor Tau pays courtesy visit to Miss SA
22-04-2015
Miss SA 2015 Lisl Laurie was Johannesburg Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau’s favourite contestant to win the title and he was ecstatic when she was crowned the fairest of them all at Sun City last month.
The Mayor revealed this when he and Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Corporate and Shared Services Councillor Mally Mokoena paid Laurie a courtesy visit at her home in Eldorado Park yesterday.
The Mayor said he and his wife, Pilisiwe Twala-Tau, were among dignitaries who attended the beauty contest at Sun City in North West on March 29. He said he had whispered to his wife that Laurie was his favourite to win the crown and that he would be very happy if she could take it home to Johannesburg.
As it turned out, his wish came true when she was announced the winner.
Yesterday in Eldorado Park, the Mayor congratulated Laurie, saying the City was proud of her achievement.
He said from now on, Laurie would be under pressure to be the ambassador of Johannesburg and the country as a whole.
“This is the City of opportunities and we would like to celebrate with you and hope that you will inspire many young girls to reach for the stars. Our country is an exciting one and the City of Johannesburg is vibrant and full of opportunities despite recent xenophobic problems. Wherever you go you must fly the flag of Johannesburg and know that this is the city of courage, hope and opportunities. We wish you well in your new career and you must know that we will be watching each and every step you take," he said.
After toasting Laurie’s achievement, the Mayor handed her a certificate of recognition for being the new ambassador of Johannesburg.
In her reply, the 24-year-old Miss SA said she was proud to come from Eldorado Park, a township infamous for drug abuse and crime.
She said she always wanted to give back to the community and the country.
Laurie established the Pearl Project, a non-profit organisation, in July last year to motivate and empower young girls from Eldorado Park, Kliptown, Soweto and other areas after realising that young girls needed to be guided and uplifted.
The University of Johannesburg B Com Accounting graduate said the project was close to her heart.
She appealed to Mayor Tau to help her find land where she would be able to build a centre to teach young girls skills such as knitting and baking.
Laurie thanked her grandmother and mother for giving her encouragement and support when things were tough. She said she would not have realised her goals without them.