Human rights organization #Africa4Palestine launched a petition on Wednesday calling on South Africans to ask the CEO of Miss South Africa, Stephanie Weil, to withdraw the Miss South Africa organization from the competition, which is due to take place next month in Israel.
According to a statement released by the organization, over 5000 South Africans endorsed the petition in less than 24 hours.
[NEW] Miss South Africa organisers are facing increasing pressure to boycott the Miss Universe pageant in Israel.https://t.co/8CzNMVoLW0
— The Daily Vox (@thedailyvox) November 9, 2021
“The outpouring of support for Miss South Africa to not go to Apartheid Israel must not be arrogantly dismissed by the CEO of the entity, Ms Stephanie Weil,” the statement read, adding:
“By now it is undeniable that these calls are from the vast majority of South Africans – including civil society, human rights groups, influencers, media personalities, trade unions, political parties and others who have all come out calling on Miss SA to withdraw participation”.
“We urge the organization – Miss South Africa – to respect the overwhelming call by South Africans,” the statement concluded.
The Economic Freedom Fighters in South Africa joins other pro-Palestine activists and groups' calls on Miss South Africa, Lalela Mswane to boycott Miss Universe 2021 pageant in the apartheid state of 'Israel'.#BoycottMissUniverse #BoycottIsrael pic.twitter.com/WQ1Bs4z5kf
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) November 11, 2021
Last month, after Lalela Mswane was crowned Miss South Africa 2021, Mandla Mandela, the grandson of former South African President Nelson Mandela, urged her to boycott the Miss Universe event.
While congratulating Mswane in a press statement, he called on her and on all former Miss South Africa winners to boycott the beauty pageant, in protest of the “occupation and the cruel treatment of Palestinians at the hands of apartheid Israel regime”.
‘Nothing Beautiful about Occupation’: Mandela’s Grandson Calls for Boycott of Miss Universe Pageant in Israel https://t.co/TiB0nUU1BP via @PalestineChron
— FreeHope (@freeworldun) October 22, 2021
“There is nothing beautiful about occupation, brutality and institutionalized discrimination against the Palestinian people,” Mandela said.
(The Palestine Chronicle)
