The Miss South Africa pageant, usually a celebration of beauty and empowerment, took an unexpected turn over the weekend when four protesters were arrested for disrupting the event in support of withdrawn contestant Chidimma Adetshina. The incident has sparked debate about citizenship, identity, and the role of pageantry in a diverse society.
The four protesters, three men and a woman, allegedly forced their way into the SunBet Arena in Pretoria and began chanting in support of Adetshina, who withdrew from the competition after the Department of Home Affairs found prima facie evidence suggesting her mother may have committed identity theft.
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza confirmed the arrests, stating that the protesters were detained by venue security and later handed over to Public Order Policing (POP) officers.
“The security at the venue handed the persons over to the public order police who arrested them for incitement to commit public violence,” she said.
The protesters were held at Brooklyn police station and later appeared in Hatfield Magistrates Court on charges of incitement to commit public violence.
According to IOL News, the suspects were protesting in support of Adetshina Chidimma, who withdrew from the pageant after the Department of Home Affairs found prima facie evidence suggesting her mother may have committed identity theft.
The announcement was made in a statement by Home Affairs minister, Leon Schreiber, that Adetshina’s father was ostensibly Nigerian while the 23-year-old law student’s mother was believed to be from neighbouring Mozambique.
Adetshina made headlines as netizens called for an investigation into her citizenship. Just days before the Miss SA pageant, she withdrew from the competition.
In a video, voices can be heard, allegedly from police at the Miss SA event, ordering people to get inside the police vehicle.
Bianca Van Wyk, an independent researcher, writer, and analyst, stated that the four suspects were allegedly members of a non-profit group denouncing Adetshina's backing.
“There are four of them, three men and one woman from an NGO,” she said.
According to Van Wyk stated that the matter had been transferred from the Hatfield Magistrates Court to the Pretoria Central Court.
In a surprising twist, the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant has extended an invitation to Adetshina to participate in the Miss Universe 2024 pageant.
“We at Miss Universe Nigeria have been closely following the developments regarding your decision to bow out of the Miss South Africa beauty pageant. We acknowledge the circumstances surrounding your withdrawal and understand the challenges you may be facing,” national director Guy Murray-Bruce said.
“In light of these events, we want to extend our support and encouragement. We believe that your journey in the world of pageantry is far from over and that there are still numerous opportunities for you to showcase your talent, grace and beauty.
“As a Nigerian by heritage, we would like to formally invite you to participate in the Miss Universe 2024 pageant. This is an opportunity to represent your father’s native land on an international stage, and we believe you would be an outstanding contender,” Murray-Bruce said.
The Nigerian pageant urged Adetshina to consider the opportunity and take part in “a competition that celebrates the strength, intelligence, and diversity of Nigerian women”.
