South Africa home affairs minister has declared that Chidimma Adetshina, the 23-year-old South African model from Nigeria, cannot be allowed to represent South Africa and due to this, she has been forced to relinquish her coveted spot in the Miss SA 2024 competition, succumbing to the unrelenting pressure of xenophobic attacks and a maelstrom of controversy surrounding her citizenship.
The beleaguered beauty queen, whose father hails from Nigeria, had been at the center of a raging storm since her eligibility for the pageant was called into question.
As the controversy reached a fever pitch, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber launched a scathing investigation into Adetshina’s mother, who has Mozambican roots, leveling grave accusations of identity theft.
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The minister’s probe was sparked by a request from the pageant’s organizers, who had been bombarded with criticism and outrage from various quarters.
Despite being born in South Africa in 2001, a fact that should have unequivocally conferred citizenship upon her, Adetshina found herself at the mercy of a torrent of xenophobic abuse and vitriol.
In a poignant statement, Adetshina announced her withdrawal from the competition, citing the need to protect her family’s safety and wellbeing.
The decision marked a devastating end to her Miss SA journey, one that had begun with such promise and excitement.
As the dust settles on this contentious issue, South Africa is left to grapple with the uncomfortable truths about citizenship, identity, and belonging that this episode has laid bare.
