The jeweller behind the Miss South Africa diamond crown says the pageant could have used the crown at Saturday’s finale for free. It chose not to.
Instead, Tiyani Makamu was crowned with a temporary headpiece that social media users mocked, comparing it to a Burger King crown.
In a statement on Sunday, Nungu Diamonds said its sponsorship talks with the Miss South Africa Organisation had failed.
“Nungu Diamonds’ sponsorship agreement with the Miss South Africa Organisation was not renewed for the 2026 pageant. Negotiations were conducted in good faith and continued into the final days before the Finale; however, the parties were ultimately unable to reach a mutually beneficial agreement,” the company said.
It said it had still offered the crown.
“Notwithstanding this impasse, and as a gesture of goodwill, Nungu Diamonds granted the Miss South Africa Organisation permission to use the Mowana Crown at the Finale, on the clear understanding that sponsorship discussions would resume after the event. The decision not to use the Mowana Crown rested solely with the Miss South Africa Organisation. We respect that decision,” the statement reads.
The jeweller distanced itself from the crown Makamu wore.
“We wish to state unequivocally that the crown worn at the 2026 Finale was not designed, crafted or supplied by Nungu Diamonds,” they said.
Miss SA spokesperson Zawadi Dlamini told reporters after the finale that the new crown was deliberate and tied to this year’s theme, “From Imbokodo to Diamond”.
“The crown is called Imbokodo; it represents the strength of women. It represents women as rocks. This is a temporary crown, but a new crown which we’re going to call Imbokodo as well,” he said.
He said the organisation was engaging designers and would hold a competition for young designers to create the permanent crown.
“The making of a crown is something exciting and glamorous, so we will be sharing the process, and [it is] something we look forward to,” he explained.
Outgoing Miss SA Qhawekazi Mazaleni also appeared at the finale without the Mowana.
Nungu said it was proud of the partnership it had shared with Miss SA since 2023. It congratulated Makamu and said it would make no further comment.
The Mowana Crown was unveiled in 2023. It is made up of more than 800 stones, including diamonds, gemstones and cubic zirconia. The biggest weighs 15 carats.
Natasha Vermaak (née Joubert), Mia le Roux and Mazaleni each wore it.
When the crown was launched, Nungu was announced as the pageant’s exclusive crown and jewellery sponsor for three years.
Makamu, 27, from Bronkhorstspruit, wins R1 million in cash and a R500,000 impact fund for her advocacy work.
