Popular DJ Black Coffee, real name Nkosinathi Maphumulo, has voluntarily stepped down as judge for the Miss South Africa 2014 pageant after realising that he is related to contestant Tidimalo Sehlako.

Zalebs.com earlier this week reported on a tip-of they received from an anonymous source, who accused the longstanding pageant of turning a blind eye to their strict rule against nepotism.

The upset source correctly pointed out that semi-finalist Tidimalo and Black Coffee’s wife Mbali Mlotshwa have the same father, and further claimed that the latter actually persuaded her half-sister to take part in the event, while knowing full-well that her husband was a judge.

In light of this revelation, Black Coffee has announced that he has officially resigned as pageant judge. He, however, denies any prior knowledge of his familial relation to Tidimalo, who he says he has never met.

Announcing his resignation in a statement, the DJ said: “I have recused myself from the judging process for Miss South Africa 2014 because it has emerged, to my surprise, that I am actually related by marriage to Top 33 semifinalist Tidimalo Sehlako. Miss Sehlako is the half-sister of my wife Mbali Mlotshwa and, although she and her half-sister have only ever met twice in person, I had never met her, and notwithstanding that we have no relations of any kind with her, I do not wish any perception arising to distract from the pageant.

“I hold the Miss South Africa brand in high repute and am hugely impressed by the calibre of entrants in this year’s competition. However, I feel that the fair way forward from this most unfortunate and unintended circumstance is to resign as a judge.”

Tidimalo Sehlako, the contestant to whom Black Coffee is related (Image Credit: Tidimalo Sehlako Facebook Profile)

Auditors for the Miss SA pageant, PwC, has removed Black Coffee’s scores from the competition and recalculated the results, which were reportedly not affected.

“Sun International confirms that there has been no impropriety and that Black Coffee has in no way influenced the result,” said Alison McKie, General Marketing Manager Sun International.

“Miss Sehlako would have been shortlisted in any event without his participation thanks to the scores she received from the other judges.”

Sun International is the official license holder of Miss South Africa pageant.

(Image Credit: Black Coffee Official Facebook Page)