Nigerian born Chidimma Adetshina, has announced her withdrawal from the Miss South Africa contestant, following the outrage which greeted her entry.
Her entry had caused a national debate because of her nationality status. She was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother. She pulled out the contest billed for Saturday after the South African 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.
“I am really grateful for all the love and support I have been shown.” On Wednesday, home affairs minister Leon Schreiber said the investigation uncovered “prima facie indications” that Adetshina’s mother might have committed fraud and stolen the identity of a South African woman.
The ministry said it was obtaining legal advice on the implications of this on the citizenship of Adetshina, who was an infant at the time of the alleged fraud.
South Africa grants citizenship by birth to anyone born in the country after 1995 to a South African parent or permanent resident.
