The South African Ministry of Home Affairs has started an inquiry to determine the nationality of Chidimma Adetshina, a model of Nigerian heritage.
Controversy arose last week over Chidimma's eligibility to compete in this year's Miss South Africa pageant. Born in Soweto, South Africa, to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, Chidimma, 23, qualified for the pageant's round of 16, sparking a social media debate about her nationality.
Some critics on social media called for her disqualification. Gayton McKenzie, the South African Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, commented on the controversy, saying it gave "funny vibes." Njabulo Nzuza, the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, also addressed the country's citizenship laws in response.
In a recent statement on social media, Leon Schreiber, the Minister of Home Affairs, announced that the department had received an official request from Miss South Africa organizers to verify Chidimma's citizenship, with her consent.
Schreiber stated that the department is "working to verify and compile the required information," which will be made public. He added that any legal violations found during the inquiry will be handled according to the law.
"The Department of Home Affairs received an official request from Miss SA organizers to inquire into the citizenship of a contestant. The request included the contestant's consent," the statement read.
"We are working to verify and compile the required information. If any transgressions are found, they will be handled strictly according to legal prescripts. If not, we will inform the requesters and the public of the outcome."
