Mr Gay World SA slams organisers for treating him with disrespect
MR Gay World South Africa, Bongs Ndima, expressed dissatisfaction with the Mr Gay World South Africa organisation after he was allegedly disrespected by it.
Ndima was the first black man to win the title. He took over the reign from Louw Breytenbach.
Breytenbach was initially crowned Mr Gay World SA in May last year. He won Mr Gay World in November 2021 and handed over the reins to Ndima, the Mr Gay World SA first runner-up.
Ndima says he entered the competition because he felt there were not enough men of colour to represent people who looked like him. He added that he wanted to push his organisation, Bongs Ndima Foundation, which focuses on male mental health.
In a statement released by the foundation he claimed Mr Gay World SA did not want integration, which was why after over 10 years of running the competition there’s never been a black person to hold the title.
“The disrespect I have received from the organisation is enough closure for me. Always strategically placed as second or third runners-up just to insult us. Even when the news came in of Breytenbach winning the Mr Gay World title, which meant automatically I had to step in as the South African titleholder, they were not so happy to pass the title to me,” said Ndima.
He claimed the organisation refused to have a formal ceremony to announce his winning and kept making empty promises and delaying responses.
“The organisation has done nothing for me since my announcement. There's no contract or prizes. Even coming to Johannesburg for my inauguration, I paid my way, flights, and accommodation. All they assisted with was R400, which they said was to cover my meals. The much-promised media coverage around the announcement which they said they would do never happened,” said Ndima.
Ndima thanked everyone who supported him from the time of voting till now. He said his wish was to show and inspire young gay men, especially black men, that it is okay to be gay and to accept your sexuality.
Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape.
Earlier this week, police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said the Kokstad Stock Theft Unit, assisted by the Kokstad K9 Unit, embarked on an operation at Bizana in the Eastern Cape. The team was following up on information about sheep stolen in Kokstad this month.
“Police proceeded to Emabhusheni area in Bizana where 27 sheep were recovered. Police also recovered two sheep that were already slaughtered.
“The stolen sheep were found in the suspect’s yard. The sheep were stolen in Kokstad and Swartburg. The 35-year-old suspect was placed under arrest for stock theft,” Mbele said.
She said the suspect would be profiled to check if he was linked to other cases reported in the Harry Gwala District and surrounding areas. She said more arrests were expected.