‘We aren’t a political organisation,’ Miss SA organisers say as calls grow for Lalela Mswane to boycott Miss Universe pageant in Israel

Lalela Mswane

Cape Town – Miss SA 2021 Lalela Mswane has come under fire from anti-apartheid activists and organisations after it was confirmed that she will be competing in the Miss Universe pageant which will be held in Israel next month.

It is a known practice that the Miss SA winner always heads to the next pageant, Miss Universe, after she has been crowned.

However, since the announcement that the global pageant would be held in Israel this year, there have been calls for South Africa to withdraw from the competition due to the current political climate in Israel.

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The pageant’s criticism stems primarily from South Africa’s history of apartheid and colonialism, which is strikingly similar to Palestine’s.

Amongst those who called for the pageant’s boycott was Nelson Mandela’s grandson Inkosi Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela.

Taking to Instagram, he cited “the occupation” and discrimination against the Palestinian people by Israel and further urged South Africans and the whole world to boycott the event.

ALSO READ: Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla calls for ‘global boycott’ of Miss Universe pageant in Israel

The Palestine Solidarity Alliance on the other hand has also harshly criticised Mswane’s decision and urged her to boycott the pageant.

“Most of the @missuniversecontestants run on the idea that they stand for human rights, ‘world peace’ or in Miss SAs case ‘children empowerment’. How can their solution for ‘world peace’ or ‘children empowerment’ be accomplished if these contestants are willingly going to a land that actively partakes in war crimes, killing of innocent children, illegal land invasions, ect ? If these contestants compete in an apartheid state it is hypocritical to their beliefs and if they truly wanted ‘world peace’ or ‘children empowerment’ they will NOT compete in a state that violates human rights on a daily basis.”

“With regards to Miss South Africa. It’s disappointing that she as well as her organisers will be representing us, a country that knows first hand what it is like living under an occupation, in an apartheid state,” wrote the Palestine Solidarity Alliance in an Instagram post, in part.

Meanwhile, the Miss SA organisation has remained adamant that it is “not getting involved in a political war of words and looks forward to watching Miss SA make the country proud on an international stage”.

In a statement, the organisation partly wrote: “Miss South Africa, Lalela Mswane, will represent South Africa at the Miss Universe competition, held this year in the picturesque Israeli resort town, Eilat, on December 13. This is contrary to any indication otherwise. Miss South Africa Organisation CEO, Stephanie Weil, said that she was aware there were statements indicating that Lalela had pulled out but that these were completely unfounded and untrue.”

“We are not a political organisation and The Miss Universe pageant is not a politically inspired event.”

Read the full statement here:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Miss South Africa (@official_misssa)

Twitter is divided between letting Mswane enjoy her reign in peace, and wanting her to choose a side in the Palestine-Israel saga.

Take a look at some of the Twitter reactions:

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Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo

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