Miss Universe in Israel: South Africa protests against the participation of its miss

Lalela Mswane, crowned Miss South Africa last October.

© Lalela Mswane official twitter account

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Miss South Africa should she go to the Miss Universe competition organized in Israel?

The debate rages in the country, as calls to boycott the event, scheduled for December 12 in Eilat, multiply, in order to denounce Israeli policy in the occupied territories. 

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With our correspondent in Johannesburg

,

The Ministry of Culture now refuses to support the participation of the South African beauty queen in the Miss Universe competition, in order, according to a statement, to denounce the "

".

A decision applauded by the ANC, the ruling party, which criticizes "

" in the occupied territories, and draws a parallel with the apartheid regime.

Participation maintained for now

Lalela Mswane, crowned Miss South Africa last month at age 24, has not spoken publicly.

But the competition committee believes that it is not a " 

 " and supports the young woman in her trip, which is for the moment maintained.

This is not the first time that South African organizations have called for a boycott in defense of Palestine.

In 2014, for example, the Woolworths chain of stores was targeted for importing Israeli products.

The government has also supported the Palestinian cause since the end of apartheid, and has withdrawn its ambassador to Tel Aviv since 2018.

A demonstration is planned in front of the offices of the Miss South Africa committee on Friday, November 19.

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