South Africans love a good controversy, especially if it involves beauty queens, nationality debates, and some heated social media drama.
So, it’s no surprise that Miss South Africa 2024 finalist Chidimma Adetshina set off a firestorm by daring to, well, exist.
Born in South Africa to a Nigerian dad and a Mozambican mom, Adetshina quickly found herself in the middle of what we’ll call “The Great Nationality Debate.” You could almost hear the collective sigh of “How dare she?” across the internet.
The second Adetshina made it into the pageant’s top 16, Twitter (or X, if we’re feeling fancy) lit up like it was New Year’s Eve.
Suddenly, everyone from your aunt to that guy who once won a pub quiz was a Miss SA expert, dissecting Adetshina’s entire heritage. Some claimed she wasn’t “South African enough,” while others asked, “Does she even know how to make pap?”
One user commented, “I’m all for diversity, but how does Nigeria + Mozambique = South Africa?” This is the same crowd who’d likely go, “Hey, I have a Nigerian cousin, I’m totally African!”
Meanwhile, fans jumped to defend her, with hashtags like #XenophobiaIsNotBeauty and #WeLoveChidimma. If pageants were scored by hashtag popularity alone, she’d already have her crown.
Amid the social media uproar, they announced they’d be investigating Adetshina’s citizenship. Cue dramatic gasp! According to sources, this “investigation” would clarify whether Adetshina is truly South African, or just—brace yourself—faking it.
In an unexpected twist, South Africans found themselves simultaneously rooting for and questioning Home Affairs. One tweet read, “The queue to get your ID takes 5 hours, but Miss SA causes them to move faster than an express train?”
Another user added, “Can they do this much investigating when my passport goes missing?” The response was a mix of indignation and admiration, which is pretty much the national vibe anyway.
What does it mean to be South African? For some, being South African means being born here. For others, it’s about identity and community.
Some critics insisted Miss SA was about “South African heritage,” which they defined with the precision of a toddler describing quantum physics. “She doesn’t embody the spirit of a true South African,” one person tweeted, probably while eating biltong with one hand and googling Adetshina’s bio with the other.
Others noted that she was, after all, raised in Soweto and is about as South African as anyone else—except maybe that she’s had to spend half her time explaining this to strangers online.
So where does this leave us? With a crownless Miss SA 2024, an endless supply of tweets, and the knowledge that if you so much as wear a sash in this country, someone somewhere will have an opinion on it.
As for Adetshina, she’s won the hearts of those who value inclusivity—and annoyed those who think a Miss South Africa finalist should come with an official heritage stamp.
In the end, this year’s Miss South Africa has given us all something to think about. If anything, it’s taught us that beauty pageants are no longer just about beauty.
They’re about citizenship, culture, and whether you can survive a social media storm while wearing heels.
Congratulations, Chidimma! You may or may not get the crown, but you’ve certainly got our attention.
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Tanzania Confirms Second Marburg Outbreak After WHO Chief Visit
Dar es Salaam — Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has declared an outbreak of Marburg virus, confirming a single case in the northwestern region of Kagera after a meeting with WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The confirmation follows days of speculation about a possible outbreak in the region, after the WHO reported a number of deaths suspected to be linked to the highly infectious disease.
While Tanzania’s Ministry of Health declared last week that all suspected cases had tested negative for Marburg, the WHO called for additional testing at international reference laboratories.
“We never know when an outbreak might occur in a neighbouring nation. So we ensure infection prevention control assessments at every point of care as routine as a morning greeting at our workplaces.”Amelia Clemence, public health researcher
Subsequent laboratory tests conducted at Kagera’s Kabaile Mobile Laboratory and confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one positive case, while 25 other suspected cases tested negative, the president told a press conference in Dodoma, in the east of the country today (Monday).
“The epicentre has now shifted to Biharamulo district of Kagera,” she told the press conference, distinguishing this outbreak from the previous one centred in Bukoba district.
Tedros said the WHO would release US$3 million from its emergencies contingency fund to support efforts to contain the outbreak.
Health authorities stepped up surveillance and deployed emergency response teams after the WHO raised the alarm about nine suspected cases in the region, including eight deaths.
The suspected cases displayed symptoms consistent with Marburg infection, including headache, high fever, diarrhoea, and haemorrhagic complications, according to the WHO’s alert to member countries on 14 January. The organisation noted a case fatality rate of 89 per cent among the suspected cases.
“We appreciate the swift attention accorded by the WHO,” Hassan said.
She said her administration immediately investigated the WHO’s alert.
“The government took several measures, including the investigation of suspected individuals and the deployment of emergency response teams,” she added.
Cross-border transmission
The emergence of this case in a region that experienced Tanzania’s first-ever Marburg outbreak in March 2023 has raised concerns about cross-border transmission, particularly following Rwanda’s recent outbreak that infected 66 people and killed 15 before being declared over in December 2024.
The situation is particularly critical given Kagera’s position as a transport hub connecting four East African nations.
Amelia Clemence, a public health researcher working in the region, says constant vigilance is required.
“We never know when an outbreak might occur in a neighbouring nation. So we ensure infection prevention control assessments at every point of care as routine as a morning greeting at our workplaces.”
The Kagera region’s ecosystem, home to fruit bats that serve as natural reservoirs for the Marburg virus, adds another layer of complexity to disease surveillance efforts.
The virus, closely related to Ebola, spreads through contact with bodily fluids and can cause severe haemorrhagic fever.
Transparency urged
Elizabeth Sanga, shadow minister of health for Tanzania’s ACT Wazalendo opposition party, says greater transparency would help guide public health measures.
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“This could have helped to guide those who are traveling to the affected region to be more vigilant and prevent the risk of further spread,” she said.
WHO regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti says early notification of investigation outcomes is important.
“We stand ready to support the government in its efforts to investigate and ensure that measures are in place for an effective and rapid response,” she said, noting that existing national capacities built from previous health emergencies could be quickly mobilised.
The situation coincides with leadership changes in Tanzania’s Ministry of Health, with both the chief medical officer and permanent secretary being replaced.
This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.
Source: allafrica.com
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