The current discussions surrounding the citizenship of Miss South Africa 2024 contender Chidimma Adetshina replicate my take on how the persistent xenophobic behaviour in South Africa is a case of internalised colonialism. I explored South Africa’s historical past of systemic racial segregation regarding the present-day xenophobic tradition prevalent within the nation. Though I used to be born in Nigeria, I grew up in South Africa and have lived there since I used to be six years previous. I attended main and highschool and accomplished two college levels within the nation. I additionally fluently communicate and perceive a South African language. Nevertheless, regardless of my deep connection to the nation, I’m nonetheless not thought of South African because of my Nigerian heritage.
The prevailing argument on social media and a few on-line information platforms relating to the case of Chidimma Adetshina is that she is just not eligible to compete in Miss South Africa 2024 as a result of she is just not South African. Regardless of being born and raised in South Africa, Chidimma Adetshina is taken into account non-South African for 2 predominant causes. One, she was born to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mom. Two, Chidimma’s mom allegedly falsely claimed to be a South African citizen, making her an undocumented immigrant, resulting in the notion that Chidimma herself needs to be thought of a foreigner.
This example reveals two truths: South Africans are displaying xenophobic and Afrophobic attitudes because of Chidimma’s Nigerian and Mozambican heritage, and because of allegations towards Chidimma’s mom for falsely claiming South African citizenship.
In 2023, Melissa Nayimuli a former Miss South Africa contestant confronted comparable backlash for having a Ugandan father and a South African mom. Melissa, who on the time made it to the highest sixteen of the competitors, recounted how she was a sufferer of xenophobic slurs on social media as a result of she was “not absolutely South African.”
Which makes me marvel: What makes one South African?
In some situations, a fast and simple response would have been offered however on this context, the reply is rooted in quite a few concepts. There are two predominant points associated to citizenship in South Africa. The primary is that there are widespread beliefs ingrained in racist, colonial, xenophobic, and Afrophobic interested by who really belongs within the nation. Secondly, the Division of Dwelling Affairs’ institutional biases and outdated insurance policies perpetuate discrimination and contribute to the nation’s persistent xenophobic behaviour.
I really like South Africa. It’s the place I spent my early years and shaped lifelong friendships. Nevertheless, the irony is just not misplaced on me {that a} nation recognized for celebrating range nonetheless has strict views on citizenship and belonging.
After leaving Nigeria at six years previous, I didn’t spend greater than six consecutive weeks exterior of South Africa till I moved to the UK. Regardless of this long-term connection, my sister, who was born in South Africa and has solely recognized that nation as residence, will solely qualify for South African citizenship as soon as she turns eighteen. Apparently, if I had moved to the UK on the identical age I used to be after I moved to South Africa, I might have been granted British citizenship by the point I used to be sixteen years previous.
Given the more and more globalised world we discover ourselves inside, all nations must restructure their concepts and insurance policies surrounding citizenship and belonging. Within the African context, these discussions ought to begin inside the African Union and different regional blocs that exist on the continent. The concept looking for security and a greater life abroad are labelled as unlawful must be on the forefront of those discussions.
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