Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture Gayton McKenzie has called for the Miss SA pageant to be regulated by the government and not a private entity. This comes amid his concerns and questions over the nationality of one of the finalists, Chidimma Adetshina.
The 23-year-old – whose father is Nigerian and whose mother is South African with Mozambican roots, has come under fire for her ancestry.
The outspoken Patriotic Alliance leader and his deputy Kenny Kunene have been outspoken about wanting a “South African” with a “South African name” to represent the country.
GAYTON MCKENZIE WANTS PAGEANT TO BE REGULATED
Speaking to eNCA, Gayton McKenzie questioned why the Miss SA pageant was not regulated by the government.
He said, “Miss SA does not fall under us. If you use the country’s name, there should be some regulation. It needs to be regulated.
“Once you’re Miss SA, you represent the country.”
Gayton added that he was meeting with stakeholders of the pageant, particularly to discuss the controversy surrounding Chidimma Adetshina, who he previously labelled “Nigerian.”
He added: “We will be meeting with them this week, where we will get final answers.
He continued: “Miss SA is not just about being born in South Africa. You must love our culture and be an ambassador. Nigeria has an ambassador at their event, so we need a South African ambassador.
“We have nothing against her, but there are some questions we want answers to. But when we ask questions, we are being called xenophobic.”WHO OWNS MISS SA?
According to its website, hotel and hospitality conglomerate Sun International acquired full ownership of the Miss South Africa pageant in 2000
Before that, the pageant was sponsored by publications including Sunday Times, Rapport, and the now defunct Afrikaans newspaper, Die Landstem.
In 2019, Sun International sold the rights to the pageant to Weil Entertainment, whose owner is Miss SA CEO Stephanie Weil. The group remains a sponsor, and its entertainment property, the SunBet Arena, remains an official venue for the pageant.
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Gayton McKenzie has vowed to apologise to Chidimma Adetshina if she can prove she is South African. The Minister is engaging with Miss SA organisers to clarify her nationality.
Images via X: @sportsartscultur/ Instagram: @chichi_vanessa
Stephanie’s late mother, Suzanne Weil, founded Nine Squared Communications and Events, the pageant’s official PR company.
Stephanie told Her Network: “It had always been a project that was close to my heart and was a passion of mine. The young women I have met who have entered truly inspired me – their stories, what they achieved, and how Miss South Africa profoundly changed their lives.