Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina vs South Africa
South Africans have displayed so much hatred towards Nigerians that it has reached top politicians and forces in the country. Even the Arts and Culture Minister, Gayton McKenzie, a former convicted armed robber who was jailed for 17 years and has allied links with the gang, has joined in the vitriol and xenophobic sentiment. Naledi Chirwa, a member of the South African National Assembly and EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters), believes that Adetshina should be allowed to contest since she has South African citizenship. Her statement received backlash on social media and throughout South Africa. Nigerians in South Africa have been largely accused of drug dealing. Allowing Chidimma Adetshina to compete would vindicate drug-dealing Nigerians, the backlash argues. The blacks in South Africa must think they are different from the rest of Africa. They revere whites but talk down on other black Africans. However, Chidimma’s story is somewhat confusing.
Naledi Chirwa, EFF member of the South African National Assembly
 Gayton McKenzie, minister for Arts and Culture, and a convicted armed robber
If Chidimma had bore a South African first name like Busisiwe or Gabisile and a white European surname like Jansen Van Vuuren or Van Wyk, none of the open vitriol and xenophobic outpouring of hate would have surfaced. The indignation black Africans face in South Africa is worse than that experienced by black immigrants in Europe at the hands of whites. While South Africa welcomes a Caucasian with open arms, it treats another black African with condescension. Why? How does a person’s citizenship become a concern for an entire country when it doesn’t suit the narrative of xenophobic black South Africans?
  Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina, finalist at the Miss South Africa beauty pageant
Who is Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina? She is a finalist in the Miss South Africa beauty pageant. According to her, the mother is of Mozambique descent, whilst the father is Nigerian. She’s 23 years old, born in the Johannesburg township of Soweto, and lives in Cape Town. Her complete name composition, from a Nigerian perspective, defies the norm.
Why would her name compilation include both Igbo and Yoruba origins? What kind of Igbo or Yoruba person would name their child Chidimma, first name, and Adetshina, last name (notice the ‘t’ in her last name)? Furthermore, the “Onwe” in one of her names indicates an Igbo heritage. Something doesn’t add up here.
The girl bears no responsibility regardless of the circumstances surrounding her parents’ Nigerian origin. What matters is whether she is a South African citizen. South African citizenship is based on jus sanguinis. The right by blood, i.e., one parent, must be South African. Jus soli alone does not qualify one to be a South African citizen. Jus soli is the right of land, most associated with claiming citizenship by virtue of birth in a country. Her mother is South African. Whether Chidimma “Chichi” was born in Mozambique, Nigeria, or anywhere else, she would have still inherited South African citizenship by virtue of jus sanguinis—case closed.
Until Nigeria is stabilised, we will continue to be disrespected all over the world as our people migrate like wildebeest in the Serengeti National Park.
By Ikechukwu ORJI
