BDS has found new scapegoat in Miss South Africa

BDS may have changed their name and branding to the PSA and Africa4Palestine but their aggressive, in-your-face bullying and harassment of people who hold an alternate view remains.

For over a decade they have intimidated members of the SA Jewish community who have dared to oppose their radical anti-Israel narrative. SA Jewry have been threatened in the shops, at concerts and on University campuses where BDS groups routinely resort to threats, intimidation, smear campaigns and even violence to enforce their agenda.

Now BDS has found a new target, recently crowned Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane. Their relentless and increasingly aggressive campaign against her for declining to buckle to their demand that she withdraw from the upcoming Miss Universe pageant in Eilat is the latest in a long line of thuggish behaviour on their part. They have trolled and maligned her on social media and even threatened to protest outside her home, an act of personal harassment. A woman who was victimised as a child is once again being subjected to crass bullying.

And when their intimidation didn’t work, BDS progressed to their other modus operandi – outright lies and deceit. First they fraudulently claimed that Miss SA had withdrawn from the pageant and when that was exposed as a blatant falsehood, they added to the lie by saying that there had been a ‘U-turn’ on her part. There was no U-turn, as they had fabricated the claim that she had withdrawn in the first place.

Preventing our Miss South Africa from participating in Miss Universe will make zero contribution to attaining a resolution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict. All it will do is deny this young woman an opportunity of participation on the international stage.

We wish Lalela every success at Miss Universe. We know that she will gain from this unique experience and that the participants from the other 70 countries will benefit from engaging with this remarkable woman.

Recent Articles

​Wendy Kahn's column in the latest edition of Jewish Life: Hidden Treasures - Our Living history

Wendy Kahn's column in the latest edition of Jewish Life:

Hidden Treasures - Our Living history

There is a little-known treasure trove in the Beyachad building that few have experienced. I have worked at the SAJBD for nearly 20 years, and I have used the archive periodically in my day to day work life, getting information for articles, legal cases or correspondence.

Over the past month we have been in the process of moving our archive into the heart of Beyachad, making it more accessible and exciting for our community and the many people who use it.

Above Board 4 - 11 September

Stifling Voices and Promoting Antisemitic Tropes

We find ourselves amid a troubling controversy stemming from a contentious interview conducted by SABC journalist Juliet Newell with Dr Mamphela Ramphele of the Desmond Tutu Foundation. During the exchange, Newell challenged Dr Ramphele on her claim that Israel is perpetrating a “Holocaust” in Gaza. This regrettable incident casts a stark light on two deeply concerning trends: the rise of Holocaust inversion and the systematic efforts to stifle voices that dare to challenge entrenched anti-Israel narratives.

Charisse Zeifert Joins ABSA, University of Johannesburg, and Qhubeka for Bicycle Distribution Ceremony at Hanyani School

Charisse Zeifert Joins ABSA, University of Johannesburg, and Qhubeka for Bicycle Distribution Ceremony at Hanyani School

Charisse Zeifert recently attended a heartwarming event at Hanyani School, hosted in collaboration with ABSA, the University of Johannesburg, and Qhubeka. The occasion marked the distribution of bicycles to learners, aimed at improving access to education by easing their daily commute.