Cape Argus

Mr Gay World SA slams organisers for treating him with disrespect

- SONRI NAIDOO

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.

 ?? ?? POLICE recovered 27 sheep in the Emabhushen­i area.
POLICE recovered 27 sheep in the Emabhushen­i area.
 ?? ?? Bongs Ndima
Bongs Ndima

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