A contestant in the Miss South Africa pageant Chidimma Adetshina, whose Nigerian heritage caused a national controversy, has withdrawn from the competition.
Adetshina, 23, announced her decision on Instagram on Thursday, just days before the final scheduled for Saturday.
Her withdrawal came 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 wrote.
The controversy began when Adetshina, a law student, was announced as a finalist in July. Her Nigerian background led to intense scrutiny and xenophobic attacks on social media, with some questioning her eligibility for the pageant.
Adetshina has previously stated that she was born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a South African mother of Mozambican descent.
The situation escalated when the Home Affairs Ministry launched an investigation into her citizenship. On Wednesday, Minister Leon Schreiber revealed that the investigation found “prima facie indications” that Adetshina’s mother might have committed fraud by stealing the identity of a South African woman.
The ministry is seeking legal advice on how this affects Adetshina’s citizenship, noting that she 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.
The controversy has stirred anti-foreigner sentiment in South Africa, which has seen violent attacks on immigrants in the past. The debate over Adetshina’s participation in the pageant drew reactions from politicians, celebrities, and the public. While some supported her, others called for her disqualification.
In her farewell message, Adetshina thanked those who supported her throughout her Miss South Africa journey. “I am really grateful for all the love and support I have been shown,” she said.
