MultiChoice to show Lalela Mswane in the 70th Miss Universe pageant to DStv subscribers on M-Net's 1Magic channel despite South African government's boycott.

by Thinus Ferreira

Although the South African government isn't supporting Miss South Africa competing in Miss Universe in Israel, MultiChoice and M-Net are, with the pay-TV service that will be broadcasting the 70th Miss Universe pageant in which Miss SA Lalela Mswane is taking part to DStv subscribers live on Monday morning from the Universe Arena in Eilat.

The Miss South Africa organisation has stopped issuing any press releases to the media following a political fallout in which the South African government withdrew its support of Miss South Africa over Miss SA Lalela Mswane's participation at the Miss Universe pageant in Israel.

MultiChoice is likewise not promoting the 70th Miss Universe pageant with any overt media push to draw attention to it and is taking a low-key approach regarding this programming but the 70th Miss Universe pageant does appear on the DStv electronic programme guide (EPG).

MultiChoice also told the media at its recent 2021 MultiChoice Showcase last month that it has secured the 70th Miss Universe pageant rights and will be showing it to DStv subscribers.

Despite the South African government's snub of Miss SA, M-Net will carry the 3-hour 70th Miss Universe pageant in which Lalela Mswane will appear, as a live broadcast on Monday morning 13 December at 02:00 on 1Magic (DStv 103) with a primetime repeat on Monday night at 22:00 on the same channel.

The 70th Miss Universe pageant will get another repeat airing on M-Net's Me (DStv 115) channel on Sunday 19 December at 20:00, making the broadcast available to more lower-tiered DStv subscribers.

BREAKING. Bokang Mantjane crowned Miss SA 2010 in an uninspired and boring Miss SA pageant running 16 minutes over.

Bokang Mantjane (24) who loves pap and mopani worms was crowned the new Miss SA for 2010 in an uninspired, boring, draw-out and very shoddily done TV production of the Miss South Africa 2010 pageant - for the first time on Mzansi Magic (DStv 107) - that ran 16 minutes too long, cut off the end for viewers who recorded it on PVR, and made for a tedious broadcast on television.

Miss South Africa 2010 broadcast live from Sun International's Sun City - produced by Cap Events with David Hickson as director and Mark West as executive producer - used M-Net's outside broadcast fascilities and only managed to end the pageant at 19:16, a full 16 minutes late with presenters Proverb and Michelle McLean. Miss South Africa 2010 was shown for the first time on Mzansi Magic after the new channel took over the TV pageant broadcasting rights for this beauty contest from the SABC.

Miss South Africa 2010 was preceded by an amateurly done half hour red carpet broadcast with the former Miss SA Tatum Keshwar as host who's interviews came across as stilted, dry and timid and who was actually overshadowed by Elana Afrika as a red carpet arrival.

A flat circular and uncreative greyscale stage, worn-out music numbers, stale choreography (why so much walking in circles and circles and circles like ducklings?) and long drawn-out pacing detracted from the broadcast. A male troupe Oriental fight dance sequence set to drums was jarring and out of place. Michelle McLean saved as much of the show as she could with her excellent presenting skills and doing some limited behind-the-scenes appearances.

Jo-Ann Strauss hosting Sunday's Miss SA 2009 pageant - 'It really IS a full circle moment for me'.

The beautiful Jo-Ann Strauss who won Miss SA 2000 is the host of the Miss South Africa 2009 pageant broadcasting live on Sunday evening on SABC3 from 19:30 to 21:00 from the Sun City superbowl.

Jo-Ann is very busy with rehearsals for Miss SA and all the behind the scenes work for tomorrow evening's LIVE broadcast, but still took a moment to have a chat with me about her ''full circle moment'', what viewers can expect from tomorrow night's live broadcast, and some advice for the girls.


How is hosting something like Miss South Africa different from your other TV presenting work like Top Billing?
Well, Miss South Africa is a live TV broadcast. You get once chance and obviously you don't want to make any mistakes. Hosting Miss SA this year is also very sentimental for me. It was exactly 9 years ago when I won and when – if I can call it that – my ''journey in media'' started. So I'm very, very excited.

That's actually what I wanted to ask you about next. You've gone from winning Miss SA in 2000 to now hosting Miss SA on Sunday evening. How do you feel about this full circle moment?
I think it's fantastic. It is a full circle moment for me. And I have the same designer! The top South African designer Gideon who dressed me in 2000, has dressed me again for Sunday evening – so it really is a full circle moment for me. And it's the same team I'm working with again as I did then 9 years ago. I think it's totally the right space, the right time, and the right moment.

What are some of the stuff viewers will see in Sunday's broadcast?
Viewers can get ready for some great performances from some of the most amazing South African artists. And it's a diverse range of performances. Also the ladies are looking fantastic, I'm standing in the rehearsal room right now as we speak – and they're dressed by some of the top SA designers as well. And the pageant is also taking a much more modern approach this year – I'm sure viewers will enjoy it. And I mean, Miss SA is an institution! It's always so much fun to watch. I remember growing up and watching it with my mom - it's a TV tradition.

Any advice for the girls for after Miss SA?
Just to enjoy every moment on stage and just to enjoy the year ahead and to make the most of the opportunities that comes your way.

Miss South Africa 2009 pageant, live on Sunday, SABC3, 19:30 - 21:00.