The eligibility of a Miss South Africa (Miss SA) contestant is gaining more momentum in the political arena, as the debate on Miss SA finalist, Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina’s nationality continues.
The ANC Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, recently joined calls for clarity on the matter, requesting that the Department of Home Affairs share more on the laws surrounding citizenship.
Adetshina has been in the spotlight in recent weeks, with her nationality in particular being scrutinised on social media. There has been heated debate on whether or not she should be allowed to participate in the competition, with some on social media calling for her to be disqualified.
On her biography on the Miss SA website, Adetshina is described as a netball player and law student living in Soweto. She has progressed to the Top 16 of the beauty pageant. Per reports, Adetshina was born in South Africa, to a mother of Mozambican descent and a father of Nigerian descent.
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Patriotic Alliance leader and Sport Minister, Gayton Mckenzie, recently said that the matter was brought to his attention and that he is looking into it. Mckenzie, and his party, have been known for their opposed views on foreign nationals living and working in the country.
“If she is South African, I’ll be the first person to apologise for all the people who wrongly accused her.”
During an ANC National Executive Committee engagement on Thursday, Mbalula said the Miss SA organisers have left Adetshina open to attack by not commenting on the matter.
“We need to clarify that issue from the perspective of the laws of this country, so that we don’t allow Chidimma to be victimised… The organisers and [Home Affairs] need to clarify that issue.”
[WATCH] On the matter of Ms Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina’s citizenship. #ANCNEC#LetsDoMoreTogether pic.twitter.com/kmPlDgKjIg
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) August 1, 2024
According to law, a person automatically qualifies for citizenship if they are born in the country and if at least one parent holds residency.
When referring to the eligibility requirements of the Miss SA competition, contestants must have a valid South African ID document or passport in their possession.
Dear #FellowSouthAfricans, please note that based on applying s(2)(1) of the Citizenship Act of 1995 on information in the public domain, Ms Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina is a South African by birth lawfully participating in the Ms South Africa Competition. Should she win, she is… pic.twitter.com/gll8jGK4zu
— Prof Thuli Madonsela #KindnessBuilds (@ThuliMadonsela3) August 1, 2024
