Government has withdrawn its support for the Miss South Africa pageant after it was unable to convince organisers to pull out of the Miss Universe pageant which will be held in Israel next month.

The Department of Sports, Art and Culture announced it would no longer support the pageant because of Miss SA organisers disregard of advice against sending Miss SA Lalela Mswane to compete in the Miss Universe pageant.

The department said atrocities committed by Israel against Palestinians are well documented and the government, “as the legitimate representative of the people of South Africa, cannot in good conscience associate itself with such”.

Read the full statement HERE.