Netizens criticise EFF for supporting Chidimma

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are facing backlash from netizens for defending Miss South Africa finalist Chidimma Adetshina.

The party’s support for Adetshina, who faces criticism for her Nigerian heritage despite being South African born, has sparked a heated debate online.

EFF’s stance and criticism

In a recent statement, the EFF defended Adetshina’s eligibility to compete in the Miss South Africa pageant. They emphasised that the competition had conducted thorough due diligence on all contestants, including Adetshina. The EFF pointed out that the backlash against Adetshina reveals “a continued colonized mindset among many South Africans,” echoing remnants of apartheid and colonial attitudes. The party contrasted this scrutiny with the leniency shown toward previous contestants of foreign descent, such as Venessa Carreira, who has Portuguese and Angolan roots, labelling the situation as “a blatant case of Afrophobia.”

The EFF has voiced strong support for Adetshina and others facing discrimination based on African heritage. They urge South Africans to reject divisive remnants of colonialism and apartheid.

Adetshina, who goes by Chichi on social media, is currently in the top 11 of the Miss SA competition. Her mixed heritage, with a Nigerian father and South African mother with Mozambican roots, has ignited controversy, with critics arguing she should not participate in the beauty competition.

Public reaction and party challenges

The EFF’s support for Adetshina has drawn sharp criticism from various netizens. Online comments on platform X have been sharply critical, with some user saying “2% is loading” to mock the party’s perceived decline in recent elections. Other comments stated:

@MadiBoity: 2% is loading!

@PovertykillerB: If there were parties being voted for by Africans to lead Africa, I would suggest you contest for that because you guys don’t care about South Africans at all. We are on our own. What a rubbish of a party.

@Nompu1234: 2% loading. Keep supporting illegal foreign at the expense of our lives in South Africa.

Critics argue that the EFF’s open-border policy may have contributed to its recent decline in electoral support, which has fallen from 10.8% in the 2019 national elections to 9.52% in 2024. Some claim this policy undermines the party’s standing and alienates voters.

However, EFF leader Julius Malema dismissed these claims. He argued that the drop-in support was unrelated to the party’s stance on immigration.

“The decline in our support is not due to our open-border policy,” Malema said.

“No party pushing for tighter immigration controls has fared any better. If xenophobic sentiments are the basis for declining votes, we will continue to uphold our principles. We refuse to retreat from our commitment to a united Africa.”

Malema emphasised that the party’s focus remains on its core values, regardless of the electoral consequences.