The Department of Sports, Art and Culture has withdrawn its support for the Miss South Africa pageant because of the organisers’ ‘intransigence and disregard’ of advice on sending Miss SA Lalela Mswane to compete in the Miss Universe pageant in Israel next month.
The ANC welcomed the government’s decision.
In a statement on Sunday, the Department of Sports, Art and Culture said: ‘Following unsuccessful consultations initiated by the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture, it has proven difficult to persuade the Miss SA pageant organisers to reconsider their decision to partake in the Miss Universe event scheduled to be held in Israel during the month of December 2021.
‘What, during initial consultations, appeared like engaging, constructive and progressive discussions was later met with an unpleasant demeanour that is intransigent and lacking appreciation of the potential negative impact of such a decision on the reputation and future of a young black woman.’
The ANC called on Nine-squared, which owns the Miss South Africa organisation, to heed ‘the overwhelming call for the Miss South Africa team to boycott the upcoming apartheid Israel-hosted Miss Universe’.
ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe said: ‘The racism, human rights violations, illegal settlements, ongoing unlawful occupation and the apartheid laws of Israel are well documented and should be compelling enough for your withdrawal.’