Gauteng police arrested four protesters, three men and a woman, after they forced their way into the Miss SA event at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria over the weekend. The group began chanting in support of withdrawn contestant Chidimma Adetshina, whose citizenship was called into question.
According to Colonel Noxolo Kweza, the suspects were taken into custody for inciting public violence. They were detained at the Brooklyn Police Station and later appeared in the Hatfield Magistrates Court, which has since been moved to the Central Court of Pretoria.
The protesters were reportedly members of a non-profit organization that condemned Adetshina’s support. Meanwhile, the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant has offered Adetshina a chance to compete in the 2024 competition, representing her father’s homeland.
Adetshina withdrew from the Miss SA contest after the Department of Home Affairs discovered preliminary evidence that her mother may have stolen identities. The incident has sparked a heated debate about citizenship and identity.
The four suspects are facing charges of inciting public violence, and their case is ongoing.
