A few days ago, I posted how Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane had blocked on social media some Israel-haters who had been pressuring and harassing her to boycott the Miss Universe competition in Israel.
Since then, the BDS group Africa for Palestine (AFP) – formerly known as BDS South Africa – claimed Lalela had withdrawn from the competition:
Breaking news! Miss SA withdrawing from Israel hosted Miss Universe !✊✊
PRESS STATEMENT: Miss South Africa to withdraw from Miss Universe
09 November 2021
The human rights organization #Africa4Palestine welcomes the news that Miss Lalela Mswane, current Miss South Africa, is withdrawing participation from this year’s controversial Israeli-hosted Miss Universe pageant.
We eagerly await the formal announcement and hope that Miss South Africa withdrawing sets an example to other contestants who maybe afraid to publicly stand up for human rights. Miss South Africa will now join a growing list of participants who have withdrawn from the upcoming Israeli pageant including Miss Malaysia, Miss Greece, Miss Laos and Miss Indonesia who are all not attending this year’s Miss Universe taking place in Apartheid Israel.
We have received information of Mswane’s withdrawal following the national outcry and public calls from South Africans, including Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Chief Zwelivelile “Mandla” Mandela (MP), and other notable personalities, for Miss SA to cancel her participation from the Israeli hosted event. Miss South Africa was trending in the country yesterday, but for all the wrong reasons. We are glad that it now seems that sense has prevailed and that Miss South Africa is choosing to be on the right side of history by withdrawing from the Israeli-hosted event.
Hosting Miss Universe in such a horrific and oppressive country as Israel makes the event ugly. We believe that in the same way our cricket players and sports people are taking a knee against racism, that Miss SA Lalela Mswane is representing the views of South Africans and Africans by not endorsing Israel and its Apartheid regime.
The reason to boycott this event taking place in Israel, it is clear as daylight. Israel’s apartheid policies are well documented by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, several bodies of the United Nations and Israel’s own human rights groups, such as Btselem.
Note how they mentioned Miss Malaysia withdrawing due to BDS, which I have already shown to be a lie.
Alas, they’ve lied yet again:
STATEMENT: 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.
With all the misinformation and fake news around, Weil added that the Miss South Africa Organisation was also 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. She will not be bullied as an adult against fulfilling her ambition.
Weil said a “very, very small, but extremely vocal, group” had attempted, and failed, to derail Mswane’s chances at the prestigious international pageant.
As the reigning Miss South Africa Lalela will join participants from close on 70 countries in this contest, and will represent South Africa to the best of her ability.
“South Africa was placed very firmly in the 21st century when Zozibini Tunzi, proudly wearing her natural hair without trying to conceal it under a weave or a wig, was crowned Miss Universe.
“Her refusal to bow down to pressure to look a certain way was groundbreaking, and opened the door to diversity and the rise of the individual as opposed to look-alikes.
“Like her, Lalela will be a role model to young women – not just across the country, but across the African continent.
“Anyone who wants to rob Lalela of her moment in the spotlight is unkind and short-sighted. She is the shining beacon for young women everywhere, showing them that being beautiful while being clever and educated is very possible.“We are not a political organisation and The Miss Universe pageant is not a politically inspired event.”
Meanwhile, I suspect that Africa for Palestine head Muhammed Desai will still be watching the pageant if it is telecast. He apparently can’t help himself around beautiful women (or any women for that matter)!
Update: AFP is claiming they were misled by Miss South Africa:
Updated: QNN have posted she withdrew – even after Miss South Africa’s statement rejecting this fake news!