大象传媒

Chidimma Adetshina, a 23-year-old law student, has been facing online abuse since becoming a finalist in Miss South Africa 2024. Chidimma is South African and grew up in Cape Town to a Nigerian father and South African mother with Mozambican roots. Some people think she shouldn鈥檛 compete because of this - even though she is eligible.

大象传媒 Africa journalist Danai Nesta Kupemba talks us through the details, and what this says about xenophobia and 鈥榓frophobia鈥� more generally in South Africa.

This isn鈥檛 the first time there have been issues over the Miss South Africa beauty pageant. Melissa Nayimuli - whose father is Ugandan - competed last year and also faced online abuse. She joins us to share her experience.

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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Mora Morrison and Emily Horler
Editor: Verity Wilde

This podcast was recorded on Wednesday lunchtime in the UK. On Wednesday evening, the South African government released a statement saying there was an ongoing investigation into fraud and identify theft involving Chidimma Adetshina鈥檚 mother, in order to become a South African citizen. On Thursday, Ms Adetshina announced she was withdrawing from the contest 鈥渇or the safety and well-being鈥� of herself and her family. She did not refer to the investigation.