Cape Town – Nelson Mandela’s grandson Inkosi Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela has called for an international boycott of the 70th edition of the Miss Universe pageant that is set to be held in Israel in December.
Citing “the occupation” and discrimination against the Palestinian people by Israel, Mandla took to social media to urge South Africans and the whole world to boycott the event.
Following the announcement of Lalela Mswane as the new Miss South Africa on Saturday at the Grand West Arena in Cape Town, Mandla congratulated her on her latest achievement.
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In the same breath, he called on Mswane and all former Miss South Africa to boycott the beauty pageant.
“We welcome the announcement of the winner of the Miss South Africa at Grandwest Cape Town and congratulate Miss Lalela Mswane on her crowning.
“We, however, learn with shock that the @missuniverse event is to be held in Apartheid Israel later this year and call on our newly crowned and all former Miss South Africa to boycott that event in protest at the occupation and the cruel treatment of Palestinians at the hands of Apartheid Israel regime,” he wrote on his Instagram account.
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Mswane, 24, is a Bachelor of Law graduate from the University of Pretoria.
She is originally from Richards Bay’s KwaSokhulu.
She will be awarded with a R4 million prize package that includes R1 million in cash, a fully furnished apartment at Central Square Sandton, and a Mercedes Benz C-Class Sedan for the year of her reign.
“I possess the compassion, tenacity, leadership and people skills which render me a worthy title holder. With a willing heart, an open mind and an eagerness to learn and grow, it would be an absolute honour to reign as Miss South Africa 2021,” Channel24 quoted her as saying.
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Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo
