Pearl Thusi has spoken out in defence of Miss SA finalist Chidimma Adetshina, who has been on the receiving end of xenophobic attacks over her parentage.
Since revealing that her father is Nigerian and her mother is a South African with Mozambican roots, the 23-year-old has been victimised by angry pageant fans who believe she should not win or represent Miss SA.
The media personality’s comments come after several politicians like Gayton McKenzie, Herman Mashaba, and Julius Malema have added their voices to the commentary.
PEARL THUSI ON CHIDIMMA: ‘SHE IS BORN IN SOUTH AFRICA AND IS SOUTH AFRICAN’
On Tuesday, 30 July, Pearl Thusi joined in on the debate surrounding Chidimma Adetshina’s nationality.
The actress and media personality said: “I think it is really problematic. As soon as she was born in South Africa, she was South African, effective immediately. It is what it is
“She is born in South Africa, raised in South Africa; therefore, she is South African. She can’t call Nigeria home. That is beside the point.”
Pearl went on to call out the double standards.
She continued: “If she was a white girl and her parents were French, you would have never noticed. But because her name is what it is, now it’s a big deal.
“This girl has to suffer because she is black, and she’s female, and it’s a pageant.”
MALEMA ON XENO CRITICS: ‘SPREADING HATRED AMONG AFRICANS’
Julius Malema has shared similar sentiments on Chidimma in light of the social media backlash
In the latest episode of the EFF Podcast, he said of the Miss SA finalist: “Your citizenship is determined by where you were born. So, if she was born here, she is South African. It doesn’t matter. She is not her parents; she is herself. So why do you say she’s from Nigeria or she’s from Mozambique? She was born here.
Julius Malema, chidimma adetshina
EFF leader Julius Malema has defended Miss SA finalist Chidimma Adetshina. Image via YouTube screenshot: EFF Podcast
“We cannot punish people on the basis of where their parents come from.”
Malema added that the criticism was “engineered by those who are spreading hatred among African people.”
He continued: “We should support humanity and everywhere else you find a black person.”