Nigerians Cannot Compete in Miss SA ---Says South Africa's Minister

South Africa's Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie has spoken out on the controversy surrounding Miss SA 2024 finalist Chidimma Adetshina's ability to compete. 

The competition has been tarnished by racist criticism aimed at the 23-year-old model and law student from Soweto due to her nationality. 

Chidimma is the offspring of a South African mother of Mozambican heritage and a Nigerian father.

Following the release of a widely shared video online, which showed the finalist partying with her Nigerian family members, there was even more outcry, with many South Africans demanding that she be eliminated from the competition. 

Responding to a question by an X user, Chris Excel, who asked how he feels about Chidimma and the viral video, the minister said Nigerians cannot compete in the pageant. 

McKenzie however, said he will get all the facts before commenting further: “I just returned from Paris and will definitely get more information tomorrow, we truly cannot have Nigerians compete in our Miss SA competition. I wanna get all facts before I comment but it gives funny vibes already,” McKenzie said. 

The minister further said that the recent video of Chidimma with other Nigerians, raised ‘legitimate suspicion’ when he was criticised by a social media user.