Inkosi Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela, grandson of former South African president Nelson Mandela has called on African countries to boycott the Miss Universe competition, to be held in Israel in December this year.

In a post dated 17th October, 2021, the member of the national assembly of South Africa said, “We call for the global boycott of the Miss Universe event in Israel. We call on current and past Miss South Africa's to stand in solidarity with us and boycott the Miss Universe pageant. The brutal punishment and harassment meted out to Palestinians on a daily basis is horrific, detestable and a crime against humanity that must be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Apartheid Israel's occupation is no less despicable than Apartheid South Africa. The world responded to our call to stand in global solidarity against the Apartheid regime. Now we reiterate our call to boycott, divest and pass sanctions campaign Apartheid Israel. We must not support or legitimise the victimisation of our Palestinian brothers and sisters.”

The statement has come in lieu of the unfortunate events that have been taking place in the middle eastern country this year. But is the urge to boycott such a high platform meant for women empowerment stands in solidarity with the Palestinian sisters or does it negates the same? Miss Universe Iraq 2017, Sarah Idan, took to her social media to share her thoughts on Mandela’s statement and said, “All I can say is: how dare you? How dare you as a man try to tell an organisation for women in women empowerment what to do? This is an opportunity that millions of women dream of, having to go on a world stage and represent their people, their nation, their culture. Not governments, not politics and definitely not your political agenda.”

She also urged the leader to let Lalela Mswane, who was crowned Miss South Africa 2021 on 16th October, 2021 at Grand Arena, GrandWest in Cape Town, participate and set forth her representation at the world stage.