When law student Chidimma Adetshina clinched a coveted spot as a Miss South Africa finalist, her triumph unleashed a vicious backlash, unearthing a seam of xenophobia that lies close to the surface for some in the country.
The 23-year-old’s name hints at her connection to Nigeria, but internet detectives wanted to know more and combed through every inch of her life. They found that her father is Nigerian and though her mother is South African, her family had come from neighbouring Mozambique.
Ms Adetshina is South African, as verified by the organisers of the pageant. She has said in interviews that she was born in Soweto - the township next to Johannesburg - and grew up in Cape Town.
However, the “go-home” sentiment, and even harsher attacks, flooded social media. There was also a petition demanding her removal from the high-profile televised competition that amassed more than 14,000 signatures before it was taken down.
I think everyone but you understood that I didn’t mean that every single white South African was racist. I would have talked about white Americans the same way if it were a similar situation.
A statement doesn’t have to be about every member of a racial group to be racist. It can allow for there to be “some good ones.”
Do you really think that’s what I meant?
I think you meant black South Africans wouldn’t be xenophobic or harbor deep resentment against members of black ethnic groups other than their own, whereas white South Africans would be different.
Imagine if you and the other guy had asked me to clarify rather than assume that is what I meant. You still seem to be assuming it despite replying to a comment where I said it wasn’t.