Political party Al Jama-ah has slammed the “unfortunate statement” released by the Miss South Africa organisation insisting that Miss SA Lalela Mswane will represent the nation at the Miss Universe pageant to be staged in Israel in December.
This after growing calls for the beauty queen to boycott the global event in solidarity with Palestine.
“The politically charged statement released chose to disregard the fundamental human rights of the oppressed people of Palestine, and rather chose to support and endorse an apartheid state,” said Thapelo Amad, Al Jama-ah Gauteng provincial chairperson.
He pointed out that Palestinians face similar forms of discrimination to South Africans under apartheid.
“As an organisation, we unreservedly support the call made by Palestinians to respect and support their cultural boycott campaign, recognising the role that cultural institutions play to normalise the project of apartheid by Israel.”
Wednesday, the Miss SA organisation said Lalela would be participating in the event, in response to earlier reports from Africa4Palestine stating that the 24-year-old had withdrawn from the pageant.
“As the reigning Miss SA 2021, Mswane will be participating in the 70th Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel,” said Miss SA chief executive Stephanie Weil.
Weil said Miss SA was thrilled to be able to make Lalela’s childhood dream – to wear the crown while representing her country globally – come true.
“Mswane has spoken out openly about being bullied as a child and will not be bullied as an adult against fulfilling her ambition,” she said.
Weil said a “small, but extremely vocal, group” had attempted, and failed, to derail Lalela’s chances at the prestigious pageant.
Former president Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela has been vocal, saying: “Israel is an apartheid state and we will continue to mobilise all freedom loving people of the world to boycott, divest and pass sanctions against the brutal apartheid regime.”
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