EFF President Julius Malema has slammed many of South Africans over their comments on former Miss SA finalist Chidimma Adetshina.
The beauty queen – whose father is Nigerian and her mother allegedly Mozambican – came under fire from many South Africans who questioned her citizenship.
After stepping down from the local pageant, Chidimma was invited to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, which she has since accepted.
Meanwhile, the Department of Home Affairs is continuing an investigation into her mother, who is accused of committing fraud and identity theft.
In a heated two-hour rant on Monday, 19 August, Malema addressed a crowd of supporters in Orlando Stadium.
The outspoken EFF leader used the opportunity to throw shade at multiple individuals, including recently resigned Floyd Shivambu, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi’s wife Mmabatho Montsho, and anonymous X “whistleblower” Goolam MV.
Malema – who is pro-open borders – also lashed out at “social media commentators”, some even in the EFF, who had criticised Chidimma Adetshina.
He said: “All of you went into a cocoon because you responded on that view that said you must hate this black child.
“Your position on that girl was necessitated by the fact that an African child was under attack.
“You chose to fight an African child in favour of a white person [Miss SA 2024 winner Mia Le Roux]”.
Malema has previously defended Chidimma during an interview on an EFF podcast earlier this month.
Defending the former Miss SA finalist, Malema said, “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.
“We cannot punish people on the basis of where their parents come from.”
Meanwhile, Miss Universe Nigeria boss Guy Murray-Bruce has criticised the South African government for “victimising” Chidimma Adetshina.
Speaking to the Nigerian Arise News TV channel, he said: “We don’t have xenophobia in Nigeria. We don’t practice that here. Why do they want to practice that there in South Africa?
“It had nothing to do with Miss South Africa, it had to do with the government. The government were the ones after her..they were not nice towards her.
“Nigeria is a united nation, we care for one another. We look out for our brothers and sisters, no matter where they are. That’s what we stand for. We’re bringing a girl from the pits into Nigeria.”