The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed it’s almost ready to report the outcomes of a probe into the status of 2024 Miss South Africa hopeful Chidimma Adetshina following backlash over her multifaceted African identity.
Story Summary:
- Home Affairs says it has a report on Chidimma Adetshina’s identity
- The probe was necessitated by several requests for clarity on the 23-year-old’s status
- Chidimma is eligible to compete for Miss SA title, the organisation confirms.
Chidimma Adetshina nationality set to be confirmed
Speaking to the media, Home Affairs deputy minister Njabulo Nzuza confirmed the department received several requests for clarity on Adetshina’s nationality.
“Even this one now, we have received some requests and we are looking into the matter and the department will pronounce and make its findings known once everything has been done,” Nzuza said.
While the department never comments on nationality status of individual, Nzuza explained, the scale of the public outcry necessitated a probe into the matter and clarity will be found once and for all when the report is released.
Nzuza could not confirm a date of the announcement.
The department’s comments come on the heels of Gayton McKenzie’s recent remarks about the Miss SA saga.
The Sports, Arts and Culture minister doubled down on his controversial post about “Nigerians competing in our Miss SA competition,” stating:
“When you avail yourself to represent South Africans you are willingly opening yourself to scrutiny. South Africans shouldn’t be shamed and accused because they are asking necessary questions of the lady who wants to represent them as Miss South Africa.”
Adetshina has remarkably held her composure and resisted the urge to outrightly retaliate against an onslaught campaign targeted at discrediting her eligibility status in the Miss SA pageant.
Born to a Nigerian father and a mother of Mozambican descent at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, she has faced significant xenophobic backlash.
Critics have questioned her nationality and her right to compete in Miss South Africa, citing her heritage as a disqualifying factor.
However, according to Miss SA, Adetshina is eligible to partake in the pageant.
The eligibility criteria for the Miss South Africa pageant specify that contestants must hold a South African ID or passport, which Chidimma possesses as she was born and raised in Johannesburg.
Despite her Nigerian and Mozambican heritage, her South African citizenship makes her eligible to compete.
