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Vivian Mooki

SOWETO’s newest beauty pageant has been plunged into crisis after the organisers failed to provide the promised R80 000 prize money and flashy car to the winners.

The Miss Face of Soweto pageant was held a month ago but the queen, Bokang Montjane (22), and her runner-up, Bongiwe Msweli (23), are yet to receive their prizes.

The winner had been promised R50 000 in cash, a brand new VW Golf 5 and a R10 000 bursary. The runner-up was set to receive R30 000 in cash.

Event organiser Dennis Madondo of Dent Communications has been making excuses since the night of the finals.

Initially he said their sponsors pulled out after detractors tainted their image; then he said Dent Communications would purchase the vehicle and donate the prize money.

Last week, Madondo changed his tune, saying they had secured sponsorship from an insurance company.

“It was impossible for us to buy the car or pay the prize money, but we have roped in new sponsors. I’m 100% sure they will give us the money before the end of this month,” he said.

He refused to name the sponsors, saying they had to finalise paperwork.

“I’ll let you know once we’ve sorted out everything but things are on track,” he said.

Madondo’s empty promises have made Montjane the laughing stock of the township.

“I get people asking if I got my prizes and mocking me about it all the time and it is really upsetting,” she said.

Despite this, Montjane said she trusted Madondo.

“When he says we’ll get the prizes, I believe him. I just don’t like being drawn into the matter and it really hurts to see my picture being used instead of Dennis’s. I’d understand if I was one of the organisers,” she said.

When contacted for comment, runner-up Bongiwe Msweli (23) said she was in a meeting.

When advertising the pageant earlier this year, Madondo punted it as the best thing to hit the Soweto pageant circuit, even claiming it would surpass the long-running Miss Soweto pageant.

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