By Zukile Majova
A technicality in Miss SA's contract will deny her the chance to become the third South African to be crowned Miss World.
Claudia Henkel is contractually bound to hand over the crown to her successor at the Sun City pageant in December on a date that clashes with the Miss World pageant in Egypt and so her First Princess Dhiveja Sundrum of Durban will go in her place.
"I would love to go to the Miss World competition, but I signed a contract and that includes handing over the crown. I will honour that obligation," Claudia said. Penny Coelen and Anneline Kriel held the title in 1958 and 1974.
Thoko Qoboza, public relations manager for Sun International's Resorts Division and spokesperson for the Miss SA pageant, said the inconvenience had been caused by the Miss World organisers, who shifted the event to December. It is usually held in October/November. It was impossible to get another date at the Sun City Superbowl, she added.