Home Affairs issues update on Chidimma’s citizenship amid inquiries

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber stated that his department will respect the privacy of Miss SA 2024 finalist Chidimma Adetshina despite inquiries about her citizenship.

The 23-year-old has been a hot topic on social media. Despite being born in Soweto, Gauteng and meeting all the requirements for the beauty pageant, users questioned her right to represent South Africa as her father hails from Nigeria while her mother is from Mozambique.

HOME AFFAIRS WEIGHS IN ON QUESTIONS ABOUT CHIDIMMA ADETSHINA’S CITIZENSHIP

In an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Schreiber said the law clearly states that if either Chidimma or her mother is born in South Africa, they are regarded as citizens of the country. 

“One thing we will not do is when there is an uproar about a particular individual, but there is no actual matter before Home Affairs. We cannot violate the Protection of Personal Information Act because if someone comes and makes an allegation against you without any evidence and suddenly a lot of people repeat that allegation, it would be a violation of your right in terms of the POPI Act,” he said. 

“It’s clear we’re not going to be dragged into innuendos, rumours, and quite vicious episodes that we see on social media. However, there has been a development in that people related to the matter have asked us to help put this matter to bed by verifying some of this information. That is how it’s supposed to work,” he added. 

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Women for Change, the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) are some of the organisations that have defended Chidimma Adetshina against social media trolls.

NO COMPLAINT AGAINST MISS SA FINALIST DESPITE SOCIAL MEDIA NOISE

Schreiber said if one has a complaint, they need to bring prima facie evidence before Home Affairs, and they would investigate the matter. 

“That did not happen; there hasn’t been a single complaint with actual evidence, not one! The only thing we have received are people related to this individual [Chidimma Adetshina] saying can you please bring an end to this by verifying the information. 

“We will update the public once we’ve done that, but I do want to make it very clear we are doing so with the consent of the individuals involved, we’re doing so because they approached us, and we will not violate POPI or undermine the rule of law in cases where people don’t bring evidence or don’t bring proper applications,” Schreiber added.