Miss South Africa finalist withdraws from race over disputed nationality

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) – A Miss South Africa beauty pageant contestant on Thursday withdrew from the race, citing concerns for her and her family's safety and well-being.

Chidimma Adetshina, a 23-year-old law student, was recently named one of the finalists in the prestigious beauty contest, but she received online criticism for her nationality.

Netizens across the country were questioning her nationality, but it flared on Wednesday when the Home Affairs Department said Adesina's mother may have committed identity theft.

Adetshina, on the other hand, insisted that she was born in Soweto, near Johannesburg, to a Nigerian father and a South African mother of Mozambican descent.

Her participation in the pageant sparked debate across the country about who is qualified to be Miss South Africa and whether she is eligible to compete.

Anti-immigrant politicians, including Sports and Culture Minister Gayton Mckenzie, joined the debate, suggesting that Adetshina’s participation could rob a chance of another beautiful South African of the opportunity.

Adestshina has been subjected to online xenophobic attacks and abuse since becoming a contest finalist.

“I have made the difficult decision to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety and wellbeing of my family and I,” Adetshina said in a statement posted on her Instagram account on Thursday.

The department said there are prima facie reasons for suspecting that the individual listed as Chidimma Adetshina's mother in Home Affairs records may have committed fraud and identity theft.

“An innocent South African mother, whose identity may have been stolen as part of the alleged fraud committed by Adetshina’s mother, suffered as a result because she could not register her child,” the statement said.

The department, however, stated that "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."

Following public queries about Adetshina's Nigerian and Mozambican heritage, pageant organizers requested that the department verify her citizenship in a letter accompanied by written consent from both Adetshina and her mother.

The department said it has broadened its investigation to identify and prosecute any officials involved in the alleged fraudulent scheme, and it is seeking legal advice on the implications of the alleged fraudulent activity on Adetshina’s citizenship status.

Once the investigation is completed, Home Affairs intends to file criminal charges against all parties involved.