Mr Gay World SA Bongs Ndima claims organisers ‘disrespect’

Mr Gay World South Africa, Bongs Ndima expressed dissatisfaction towards the Mr Gay World South Africa organisation after he allegedly received disrespect from the organisation.

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, who was the Mr Gay World SA first runner up.

Ndima says he entered the competition because he felt that there were not enough men of colour to represent people who looked like him. He also 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 for my meals. The much-promised media coverage around the announcement which the organisation 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.

“I am not a quitter and those who have known me can affirm, based on my previous achievements, that I fight and stick it up. But my mental health is much more important than forcing myself into spaces that were not created to cater to people of my colour,” said Ndima.