South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has weighed in on the growing controversy surrounding Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina.
Adetshina, born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, has faced intense scrutiny over her eligibility to compete for the Miss SA title, sparking a heated debate on social media and beyond.
The debate intensified after a video surfaced showing Adetshina celebrating with individuals in Nigerian traditional attire, leading some to question whether she was “South African enough” for the competition.
McKenzie, known for his outspoken social media presence, expressed his concerns, tweeting, “I just returned from Paris and will definitely get more information. We truly cannot have Nigerians competing in our Miss SA competition. I want to get all the facts before I comment, but it gives funny vibes already.”
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba also chimed in, criticizing Adetshina’s association with individuals he claimed were likely in South Africa illegally.
“This young woman is compromising herself by identifying with characters who are likely in South Africa illegally. Bad idea,” Mashaba said on X.
In contrast, EFF leader Julius Malema defended Adetshina, arguing that citizenship is determined by place of birth.
“Your citizenship is determined by where you were born, so if she was born here, she’s South African. It doesn’t matter. She’s not her parents; she’s herself.
“So why say she’s from Nigeria or Mozambique? She was born here,” Malema said during a podcast interview last week.
He criticized those stirring division and questioned the motivations behind the backlash.
The controversy began when Adetshina mentioned her parents’ non-South African origins in her Miss SA entry video.
As she advances to the top 11, the criticism has intensified, leading to calls for her removal from the competition.
A petition has been launched to disqualify her from the race.
The Miss SA organization, which has yet to issue a formal statement on the matter, has reiterated its eligibility requirements.
According to their website, “Miss South Africa entrants must be South African citizens and in possession of a valid South African ID or passport. If an applicant holds dual citizenship, they must provide details of both on the entry form.”
The organization also emphasizes thorough background checks and psychological assessments for candidates.
With the crowning of Miss SA just a week away, the debate over Adetshina’s participation continues to stir public opinion and political discourse.
