By Staff Reporter
JOHANNESBURG – Miss South Africa 2024 finalist Chidimma Adetshina has withdrawn from the beauty pageant following widespread controversy around her citizenship and much backlash from South Africans from all walks of life.
Ahead of the finale, which is set to take place at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria on Saturday, August 10, the 23-year-old posted a statement on her Instagram stories announcing her decision to withdraw from the pageant, she wrote the following:
“I would like to start off by thanking everyone who has stood beside me right from the start of my Miss South Africa journey. I’m grateful for all the love and support I have been shown. Being part of the Miss South Africa 2024 competition has been an amazing journey; however, after much careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety and wellbeing of my family and I. With the support of the Miss South Africa organisation, I leave with a heart full of gratitude for this amazing experience.”
The Soweto-born beauty wished her fellow finalists all the best for the remainder of the competition and stated that whoever wears the crown represents everyone. The law student and model’s withdrawal from the 66th edition of the Miss South Africa pageant, in which she made the top 11, comes after an investigation by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) into the verification of her citizenship, following a request from pageant organisers.
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) said that her mother had allegedly committed fraud. In a statement, DHA Minister Leon Schreiber, explained that an innocent South African mother had her identity stolen as part of the fraud allegedly committed by Adetshina’s mother.
“Adetshina could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother, as she was an infant at the time when the activities took place in 2001,” Schreiber said.
The Miss SA organisation has reposted Adetshina’s statement on its Instagram Stories but has not yet commented on her withdrawal. The controversy around the Miss SA finalist’s citizenship has seen her being subjected to xenophobic and afrophobic attacks, which intensified on social media after what seemed like a video of her celebrating with her Nigerian family.
Meanwhile, immigration specialist Stefanie De Saude Darbandi also commented on the saga. In a statement, she said that the controversy surrounding Adetshina’s background was fuelled by xenophobic sentiments.
Miss South Africa finalist Chidimma Adetshina withdraws from pageant.
“Many assumed she was Nigerian due to her choice of flag and her family’s heritage. This situation underscores how prejudice and unfounded suspicions can influence perceptions and how these biases can be reinforced by subsequent events. It is crucial to understand that a foreigner alone cannot commit identity theft or fraud without assistance from someone within the system. Fraudulent activities often involve multiple parties, and in many cases, foreigners approach the Department of Home Affairs for assistance and are provided with incorrect guidance. It’s possible that Chidimma’s mother might have been a victim of such systemic issues, rather than a perpetrator of fraud,” Darbandi said.
According to South African law, a prerequisite for citizenship by naturalisation, which we were told is how she obtained her status, is holding a valid permanent residency permit. It is not clear if Chidimma’s mother had permanent residency status, but this would have been one of the lawful requirements to meet. If her mother had lawful permanent residency at the time of Chidimma’s birth, then Chidimma’s citizenship might still stand. However, if her mother’s permanent residency and subsequent citizenship were fraudulent, then Chidimma’s status as a South African citizen is in jeopardy, potentially rendering her an illegal foreigner.
Source: Dailynews
