A former Miss South Africa contestant, Chidimma Adetshina, has lost her South African citizenship. The government has revoked her and her mother’s identification documents after they failed to provide evidence to justify their possession.
Adetshina, a 23-year-old law student, withdrew from the Miss South Africa pageant in August amid intense public scrutiny and xenophobic attacks. Critics questioned her South African nationality, alleging that she was not a legitimate citizen.
The government launched an investigation into the matter, examining claims that her mother may have fraudulently obtained South African citizenship. Despite being given a deadline to provide evidence, Adetshina and her mother failed to respond.
As a result, the Home Affairs Director General, Tommy Makhode, announced the revocation of their identification documents.
Despite the controversy, Adetshina has continued her pageant journey. She recently won the Miss Universe Nigeria title and is set to represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe 2024 competition in Mexico.
The incident has highlighted the issue of xenophobia in South Africa, where foreign nationals often face discrimination and violence. It has also exposed the deep-seated rivalry between South Africa and Nigeria, two of Africa’s most powerful nations.