Social media users have called for a Miss SA finalist from Gqeberha to withdraw from the pageant.
This follows claims she was dating and came to the defence of Pumas rugby player Khwezi Mafu when a 15-year-old girl accused him of rape in 2018.
The social media backlash came after the pageant announced Thulani Ndzotyana, 24, as one of its top 30 finalists on Monday.
Social media users accused Ndzotyana of being a rape apologist and enabler, saying she stood by Mafu, defended him and allegedly mocked the victim.
Ndzotyana on Wednesday confirmed that she was involved with Mafu at the time and knew the victim.
However, she said she opted not to engage on the matter until the legal proceedings were completed.
“I have not been in a relationship with him since he was arrested.
“I have not spoken about it at all except to close family members.
“I was trolled and cyber-bullied at the time when I was Miss Mamelodi Sundowns and was advised not to comment — which I have not done — on the situation.
“I will not be commenting further on the matter,” she said.
Miss SA spokesperson Janine Walker said Miss SA was aware of the accusations circulating on social media.
She said Ndzotyana’s journey with the pageant would not be affected by them.
Mafu’s lawyer, Danie Gouws, said his client had already pleaded not guilty to the charge, something they would prove when he returned to court in September.
He said the public should respect court processes before commenting on the issue.
“Mr Mafu’s trial is in the near future, we know that.
“He already pleaded not guilty and people are wrong by going up against the ex-girlfriend.
“What are [they] going to say if he is acquitted?
“Which he is going to be, I’m sure.
“In SA you are found innocent or guilty by a court of law. What we need to do is respect our courts and let justice take its course,” he said.
Mafu is accused of raping the teenager on more than one occasion after a social gathering at a flat in Central on December 28 2017.
In 2018, he spent two months in custody at the North End prison before being released on bail of R10,000.
The matter was struck off the roll in March 2019 when the state failed to trace a key state witness.
The former Blue Bulls player returned to court in March 2022 when the matter was placed back on the roll based on a directive from the director of public prosecutions.
He pleaded not guilty.
The case was then postponed to September for the complainant to testify.
Ndzotyana hails from New Brighton in Gqeberha.
She became the first Miss Mamelodi Sundowns from the Eastern Cape in 2018.
HeraldLIVE
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