We join the call made by Chief Mandla Mandela, Africa4Palestine, YH4P, COSATU, PSA, Muslim Youth and many others for the withdrawal of Miss South Africa, Lalela Mswane, from the upcoming Israeli hosted Miss Universe.

The CEO of Miss South Africa Organization/Company, Stephanie Weil announced that they are proceeding to the State of Israel ignoring the huge outcry and vast majority of South Africans. Stephanie appears to be miss South Africa’s employer and we call upon Stephanie to support Lalela and ensure that Miss South Africa is allowed and supported in doing the right thing. 

If Miss South Africa, the organisation, continues on insisting on travelling to the Apartheid State of Israel, then the Miss South Africa brand may irreversibly lose its respect in South African society, who have come out vocally on this issue. The Miss South Africa brand is getting uglier by the day by ignoring the history of South Africa, by disregarding the suffering of the Palestinians and by dismissing its own supporters who have urged the company to do the right thing and not endorse the Apartheid State of Israel. 

We the undersigned therefore call for the CEO, Stephanie to stop this controversy and withdraw immediately.