Cape Town – Multi-award winning producer
and DJ Black Coffee, has recused himself as a judge for Miss South Africa 2014
on Thursday, after he discovered he was related to one of the contestants.
Black Coffee, who was part of the judging panel said he was related, by marriage, to the top 33 semifinalist Tidimalo Sehlako.
It appears that Sehlako is the half-sister of his wife.
He said: “I hold the Miss South Africa brand in high repute and am hugely impressed by the calibre of entrants in this year’s competition. However, I feel that the fair way forward from this most unfortunate and unintended circumstance is to resign as a judge.”
Sun International – the official license holder of Miss South Africa – said that Miss Sehlako will remain in the pageant.
Alison McKie, GM marketing at Sun International, said: “Sun International confirms that there has been no impropriety and that Black Coffee has in no way influenced the result. Miss Sehlako would have been shortlisted in any event without his participation thanks to the scores she received from the other judges.”
The finals of the pageant take place at Sun City on 30 March when the new Miss South Africa will take the crown from current holder Marilyn Ramos.
Black Coffee, who was part of the judging panel said he was related, by marriage, to the top 33 semifinalist Tidimalo Sehlako.
It appears that Sehlako is the half-sister of his wife.
He said: “I hold the Miss South Africa brand in high repute and am hugely impressed by the calibre of entrants in this year’s competition. However, I feel that the fair way forward from this most unfortunate and unintended circumstance is to resign as a judge.”
Sun International – the official license holder of Miss South Africa – said that Miss Sehlako will remain in the pageant.
Alison McKie, GM marketing at Sun International, said: “Sun International confirms that there has been no impropriety and that Black Coffee has in no way influenced the result. Miss Sehlako would have been shortlisted in any event without his participation thanks to the scores she received from the other judges.”
The finals of the pageant take place at Sun City on 30 March when the new Miss South Africa will take the crown from current holder Marilyn Ramos.