The Miss South Africa 2024 competition has been thrown into turmoil following the withdrawal of top 9 finalist Chidimma Adetshina. The 23-year-old law student announced her decision on Thursday afternoon, citing the safety and well-being of her family as the primary reason.
"Being part of the Miss South Africa 2024 competition has been an amazing journey; however, after much careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety and wellbeing of my family and me," Adetshina shared in a brief statement on social media.
"With the support of the Miss South Africa Organisation, I leave with a heart full of gratitude for this amazing experience."
Adetshina's withdrawal comes after weeks of intense scrutiny surrounding her eligibility to represent South Africa. Questions arose about her citizenship, given her Nigerian father and her mother, who was previously believed to be South African.
The controversy escalated when the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) revealed on Wednesday that an ongoing investigation had uncovered prima facie evidence suggesting her mother may have committed identity theft 22 years ago. This revelation cast doubt on Adetshina's own citizenship, as her mother's alleged fraud could potentially impact her status.
"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," said DHA Minister Leon Schreiber in a statement. He added that an innocent South African mother had her identity stolen as part of the alleged fraud committed by Adetshina's mother.
The Miss SA organisation, which previously insisted that Adetshina met all eligibility criteria, has remained silent on the latest developments. However, they have reposted Adetshina's withdrawal statement on their Instagram Stories.
The controversy surrounding Adetshina's citizenship has sparked heated debate across South Africa. While some have defended her, arguing that she should not be held responsible for her mother's alleged actions, others have called for her disqualification, claiming that she is not "South African enough" to represent the country.
The Patriotic Alliance, a political party, even went to court to institute legal action against Adetshina and others to prevent her from participating in the Miss South Africa finale in Pretoria on Saturday.
The Miss South Africa Organisation has faced criticism for its handling of the situation, with some accusing them of failing to conduct proper due diligence before allowing Adetshina to compete.
