The South African government has stripped a would-be Miss South Africa candidate of her national identity cards after a dispute over her nationality erupted.
Chidimma Adetshina, 23, withdrew from the Miss South Africa contest in August following a barrage of insults over claims she was not South African, prompting an official investigation into her citizenship.
The authorities announced on Tuesday that Adetshina and her mother’s identification credentials would be cancelled because they failed to meet a deadline to justify preserving them.
The law student was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father but faced a backlash that exposed anti-foreigner sentiment in South Africa.
Her Nigerian heritage attracted vicious xenophobic attacks when she was announced as a Miss South Africa finalist.
The furore drew in ministers, with the government saying it was investigating a claim that her mother may have stolen the identity of a South African woman.
Adetshina and her mother were given until Monday to provide reasons why their national identification documents should not be cancelled, Home Affairs Director General Tommy Makhode told a parliamentary committee on Tuesday.
“We have not received any response and therefore the department will be proceeding with the withdrawal of those documents in line with the Identification Act,” Makhode said.
Adetshina stated at the time that she was withdrawing from the South African tournament for the “safety and wellbeing” of herself and her family.
In September, she proceeded to Nigeria, where she won the Miss Universe contest after being warmly received.
She will compete in the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico on November 16, representing Nigeria.
South Africa and Nigeria, the continent’s two economic powerhouses, have had a long-standing rivalry, with tensions spilling over into sports, music, regional political influence, and even ride-sharing applications.