By: Natasha Archary
The Patriotic Alliance (PA) will be pursuing legal avenues to interdict Chidimma Adetshina’s participation in the Miss South Africa 2024 pageant.
In a statement issued by PA Deputy President, Kenny Kunene the party says the legitimacy of Chidimma’s claims that her mother is South African were not confirmed by means of further investigation.
According to Kunene, the 23-year old law student’s candidacy was just accepted by the Miss SA organisers without proper vetting and verification.
Chidimma, who is in the Top 12 stage of the pageant has faced public backlash for her Nigerian roots, with many signing a petition to have her removed as a South African representative in the Miss SA contest.
Although Chidimma was born and raised in Soweto, her parents’ heritage was the contention amongt most on social media.
The divorced, single mother’s father is Nigerian and Chidimma claims her mother, of Mozambican descent was born in Soweto where she grew up too.
PA leader, and Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture, Gayton Mckenzie sparked dissension on social media after his comments about her were deemed insensitive and xenophobic.
Mckenzie responded on X to a social media user who enquired what his thoughts about Chidimma being a finalist in the Miss SA pageant were, and he said, “we cannot allow Nigerians in Miss SA.”
While celebrities rally behind the Miss SA finalist, the PA says a video of Chidimma celebrating with her Nigerian family proves that she does not exude South African pride.
PA pursues legal avenues to interdict Chidimma Adetshina’s participation in Miss SA
“The Miss South Africa organisers have beeen quick to support Adetshina’s candidacy and declare it legitimate. However, it is clear from video material in circulation of her with her family that Adetshina’s family is fully Nigerian and that they are celebrating her success as Nigerians, not South Africans.
Miss SA is meant to be a patriotic ambassador for South Africa wherever she goes in the world.
She must represent the best of what it means to be a young South African woman in this country today, and she must promote South Africa’s interests wherever she will go, and particularly when she contests for global pageants such as Miss World or Miss Universe.
The arrogance of Nigerian foreigners in South Africa, and their sense of entitlement in this country, has not reached a level where a possible Nigerian is standing to be crowned as Miss SA.
South African may be excluded from something that literally has South Africa in its name.
As the Patriotic Alliance we are therefore pursuing legal avenues to get to the bottom of this matter, including interdicting Adetshina’s participation, if necessary.”
Nationality issue of Miss SA contestant Vanessa Chidimma Onwe Adetshina. #OnsBaizaNie pic.twitter.com/4MLPJiKMav
— Patriotic Alliance (@OnsBaizaNie) August 1, 2024
