The Department of Home Affairs has cleared up the confusion surrounding Miss SA finalist Chidimma Adetshina, whose nationality has been questioned.
Since revealing that her father is Nigerian and her mother is a South African with Mozambican roots, the 23-year-old has been victimized by angry pageant fans who believe she should not win or represent South Africa.On social media, various high-profile figures, including Prince Kaybee, Pearl Thusi, Gayton McKenzie, Herman Mashaba, and Julius Malema, have shared their comments on the scandal.
Speaking to Clement Manyathela on 702, Home Affairs Deputy Minister Njabulo Nzuza attempted to set the record straight on Chidimma Adetshina and questions over her citizenship.Nzuza began by claiming that he was not at liberty to publicly reveal confidential information about any citizen, including Chidimma.However, he did clear up confusion on what constitutes citizenship, which, according to the Citizenship Act, is acquired by birth, descent, or by naturalization.
Chidinma Vanessa Nzuza said, “It is commonly acquired either by soil or by blood. When we say soil, it’s because you are born in that country, and then you become a citizen.
“One country which has adopted this is America, whereby if you are born there, you become a US citizen. [However], in South Africa, you get citizenship by blood. One of your parents must be a South African. Then you qualify.
He continued: “If a person suspects that there is a person who is unworthy of citizenship or might have wrongly obtained citizenship, they do have a right to come to Home Affairs, and then we investigate.“If citizenship has been obtained in a wrong way, we have taken back the citizenship and indicated that it was obtained via fraud.
“In some cases, its not the actual person, but it is the parents of that person who have obtained citizenship. When we take away the citizenship which was erroneously or fraudulently obtained, then the child also loses citizenship”.
“I’ve heard a lot of people say that if you are born in South Africa, you are a citizen. No, in South Africa, citizenship is by blood”.Clarifying, Nzuza added that a child born in South Africa to foreign parents could obtain citizenship if their parents had a permit residency.
He continued: “The children follow the status of their parents.
“If a parent is here on a permanent residence and their child is born here, then that child qualifies for permanent residency.
“If a South African mother adopts a child, then that child can become a South African.”
The South African reached out to the Miss SA organization for comment. It confirmed that both Chidimma Adetshina and her mother are South African citizens. It also confirmed that Chidimma met all the necessary criteria to enter the pageant.
The organization also declined to comment further on the social media backlash.