Audio By Carbonatix
Miss South Africa, Lalela Mswane, has finished second runner-up in the Miss Universe contest held in Israel.
The annual pageant was won by Miss India, Harnaaz Sandhu, with Paraguay's Nadia Ferreira finishing as first runner-up.
South Africa’s government withdrew support for Ms Mswane in the contest, to protest against Israel's treatment of Palestinians, although organisers said the pageant should not be politicised.
The arts and culture ministry said that "the atrocities committed by Israel against Palestinians are well documented" and it could not "in good conscience associate itself with such".
Israel has in the past denied committing atrocities against Palestinians.
Minister Nathi Mthethwa said that Ms Mswane should have withdrawn for the sake of South Africa's global standing.
The pageant has tweeted a video of the moment Miss South Africa was announced the second runner-up:
The second runner up is...South Africa! #MISSUNIVERSE
— Miss Universe (@MissUniverse) December 13, 2021
The 70th MISS UNIVERSE Competition is airing LIVE around the world from Eilat, Israel on @foxtv pic.twitter.com/xOtBjXiN8i
Latest Stories
-
Mankessim-Accra lorry station’s choked gutters
51 seconds -
The politics of envelopes: Why bad roads in Ghana may be a voter problem too
14 minutes -
Dagbani Wikimedians, sister language communities hold annual capacity building retreat in Wa
17 minutes -
Interior Ministry confirms attack on Ghanaian traders’ truck in Burkina Faso
26 minutes -
New Oboase traditional leaders praise Asiedu Nketia for returning to express gratitude
27 minutes -
Ministry of Health reaffirms commitment to tackling sickle cell disease
37 minutes -
The Law to discuss Legal Education Reform Bill
59 minutes -
Seven remanded over open defecation
1 hour -
Karaga MP Amin Adam donates funds, 1,000 bags of cement for Northern Regional NPP headquarters
2 hours -
Karaga MP Amin Adam praises NPP delegates for peaceful primaries, calls for unity
2 hours -
Edem Agbana calls on Peki SHS alumni leaders to harness strategic leadership for school advancement
2 hours -
Amin Adam, NPP Northern Region MPs commence construction of regional party headquarters
2 hours -
Asiedu Nketia blames Akufo-Addo administration for economic woes
2 hours -
Eleven killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza, rescuers say
2 hours -
OPAG warns members against sharing recent viral inappropriate videos
3 hours