Johannesburg – The Miss South Africa pageant has erupted into chaos after a Nigerian man suddenly surfaced with breath-taking claims, alleging that he is the biological father of the Miss SA finalist Chidimma Adetshina. If the claims are found to be true, this could upend the competition.
The unnamed Nigerian individual who is claiming to be the wanna-be Miss SA's father has shared intimate family details in an interview whose video has gone viral on social media. The man recountis how he came to South Africa over a decade ago during the 2010 World Cup where he reportedly met Chidimma's mother. He further claims that at that time, both of them did not have any child.
However, Chidimma herself has emphatically denied the bombshell allegations, forcefully stating this stranger is not her father at all.
"It has been brought to my attention that there is an alleged interview going around about my father. The individual in question claiming and impersonating to be my dad is not my father," she wrote on social media.
The Nigerian man's claims have raised questions about Chidimma's age and his allegations that he met the beauty pageant's mother in 2010 who went on to give birth later that year, implies that Chidimma is 14 years old, and this would make her ineligible to compete in the pageant.
The South African Human Rights Commission has expressed grave concerns regarding both the xenophobic attacks towards Chidimma online as well as the potential mental strain caused by the damaging accusations. Furthermore, Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie who is also the Patriotic Alliance leader, has publicly cast doubt on Chidimma's eligibility during a radio interview, referring to the supposed interview.
Meanwhile, citizens show fervent support as well as fierce criticism of Chidimma on social media, exacerbating South Africa's complicated relationship with immigrants and straining discourse around cultural identity in the rainbow nation. While controversy continues to swirl, the most urgent matters seem to be Chidimma's protection and wellbeing amid this storm.
"When your father goes on radio and say he met your mom in 2010 and then she fell pregnant in 2010, that makes you 14 years old. The father said … in the interview, I see her as Nigerian," McKenzie said.
The PA also revealed that it has launched an investigation into Chidimma's participation in the Miss South Africa pageant, adding further fuel to the fire.
