Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Adetshina, whose Nigerian heritage sparked a national controversy and a government investigation, has withdrawn from the beauty pageant.

Adetshina’s announcement that she would not participate in Saturday’s final came after the Home Affairs ministry accused her mother of fraud and identity theft.

“After much careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety and wellbeing of my family and I,” Adetshina, 23, wrote on Instagram.

Adetshina, a law student, has been the focus of intense and divisive criticism on social media platforms since her announcement as a finalist in July. Several individuals, including prominent government officials, have raised concerns regarding her qualifications based solely on her Nigerian heritage.

Adetshina has previously shared with local media outlets that she was born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a South African mother of Mozambican descent.

The ensuing controversy prompted an investigation into her citizenship status, initiated at the request of the pageant’s organizers.

On Wednesday, the Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, announced that an investigation had revealed “prima facie evidence” suggesting that Adetshina’s mother may have committed fraud and assumed the identity of a South African citizen.

The ministry is currently seeking legal counsel to determine the implications of these findings on Adetshina’s citizenship status. It is important to note that Adetshina was a minor at the time of the alleged fraudulent activities.

South Africa’s citizenship laws grant birthright citizenship to individuals born in the country after 1995 to a South African parent or permanent resident.


Adetshina’s participation in the pageant has ignited sentiments of anti-foreigner sentiment within the nation, which has a history of violent and occasionally fatal attacks against immigrants.

Politicians, celebrities, and members of the general public have actively engaged in the ongoing debate surrounding Adetshina’s case. While some have expressed support and defended her, others have argued for her disqualification from the competition.

In a recent announcement, Chidinma expressed her gratitude to all those who supported her throughout her Miss South Africa journey, acknowledging their unwavering presence from the very beginning.

“I am really grateful for all the love and support I have been shown,” she wrote