‘She’s South African!’: Miss SA body on xeno attack of finalist
Miss SA has set the record straight after Top 16 finalist Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina suffered xenophobic comments about her nationality.
Miss South Africa, or Miss SA, has responded to xenophobic comments on social media regarding Top 16 finalist Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina.
Chidimma – who was born in Soweto and now lives in Cape Town – has come under fire over questions of her nationality
MISS SA DEFENDS FINALIST CHIDIMMA ADETSHINA
In recent weeks, Miss SA Top 16 finalist Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina has faced a torrent of abuse surrounding her nationality.
Many social media users have pointed to her Nigerian roots. Others have questioned why the organisation has permitted her to enter the competition.
Some have even made xenophobic comments about the Soweto-born model and LLB student.
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Speaking to The South African, Miss SA organisation confirmed that Chidimma has met all the necessary requirements to participate in the pageant.
It said in a statement: “All documentation provided by the entrants is screened and vetted.
“Chidimma is a South African citizen and has met all the requirements to be a part of the Miss South Africa competition. Her mother is South African (Zulu), and her father is Nigerian.”
According to Miss SA eligibility, contestants must be South African citizens and possess a valid ID or passport. If the contestant holds dual citizenship, documents relating to both must be made available.
CITIZENSHIP ACT AND WHAT IT MEANS
According to an amendment to the South African Citizenship Act, citizenship can be acquired by birth, descent, or naturalisation.
By birth means any individual born in the country, provided their parents are permanent residents. Descent is interpreted as those who have a parent with SA citizenship or are adopted by an SA citizen.
You can also apply to be a citizen by naturalisation if you have lived at least five years in the country, if you have married a South African, or if you are a minor under 21 years with a permanent residence.
Coincidentally, this applied to Miss SA 2001 winner Vanessa Carreira (now Coutrollis), who was born to Portuguese-Angolan parents. Carreira was born in SA.
