Miss SA contestant, Chidimma Adetshina’s citizenry has sparked backlash on social media, while some political parties and celebrities have come to her defence. Picture: X
Amid the ongoing saga over Miss SA contestant Chidimma Adetshina’s nationality, small parties, RISE Mzansi and the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) have deemed the attacks on her as “Afro and ethnophobic”.
The public’s deep concern about the validity of Adetshina’s citizenry has topped the headlines for close to two weeks after it was confirmed that her father was of Nigerian heritage, and her mother had Mozambican roots.
Earlier last week, the Miss SA organisation confirmed Adetshina met all the requirements to compete in the pageant.
RISE Mzansi national spokesperson, Gugu Ndima, slammed social media users for their xenophobic attacks on Adetshina, in spite of her being recognised as a South African citizen.
“The current xenophobic attacks expose the deep-seated hate and prejudice largely directed towards black Africans. This goes against our constitutional foundations and efforts towards nation building,” said Ndima.
Meanwhile, the PAC’s public and information office secretary, Azania Tyhali, blamed the colonial and apartheid era for dividing black people, as the 23-year-old mother of one has come under public scrutiny.
“The unfortunate Afrophobic attack on Chidimma is rooted in the anti-blackness that prevails the South African political imaginary that is a direct result of colonisation and white power structure that governs the South African society,” she said.
Citing Black Conciousness legend Steve Biko’s analysis of intra-blackness conflict, Tyhali emphasised attack on Adetshina mirrored the self-loathing of black people – deeply rooted from the former oppression under white supremacy.
“The world-over, everyone hates black people, even black themselves, and South Africa is no exception. The intra-violence that is exhibited through the Afrophobic attack on Chidimma is a result of white supremacy and the fear of the colonised black subject from confronting the real cause of their hate of themselves,” said Tyhali.
Additionally, Ndima rebuked the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie, for saying that Nigerian descendants cannot compete in the pageant, as Miss SA was of national pride.
“We are also appalled by the minister, who has sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution, for jumping on the bandwagon instead of finding out the facts before making inflammatory comments. We plead with the minister to desist from this behaviour lest it legitimises hate when South Africans are building a society unified by values,” said Ndima.
She further welcomed the SA Human Rights Commission’'s public warning that continuous xenophobic slurs levelled at Adetshina would result in crimen injuria charges.
“Sunday World” reported that cyber bullies, including those inciting xenophobic attacks online, would be charged in terms of Articles 4 and 5 of the SAHRC Social Media Charter.
“We welcome the call from the SAHRC, which has issued a stern warning against cyber bullies who have led this ill-advised charge on Vanessa,” said Ndima.
Both Ndima and Tyhali sternly noted their parties stood in solidarity with the Miss SA contender, who was vying for the crown on Saturday, August 10.
“We unequivocally support Vanessa’s right as a South African to participate in the pageant, to fully enjoy the rights and privileges every single South African is bestowed with, in terms of the Constitution.
“The pageant has over the years evolved and showcased the diverse nature of South Africa – people of ancestral descent from Europe, Asia, South Africa, and across the continent,” they said.
The Star
hope.mafu@inl.co.za