Simon Nare
THE EFF has described what it describes as the “vitriolic” attack on embattled Miss South Africa finalist Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina as Afrophobia which highlighted the deep-seated hatred towards people of African descent in our communities.
The party in a statement on Wednesday said the hatred was never directed at South Africans of European, Indian or Asian descent some of whom held public positions.
The red berets have come to the defence of the Miss South Africa finalists Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina as she continues to endure public attacks on social media where questions are being posed if she is indeed South African.
The EFF has vowed to defend Adetshina who was born in South Africa from a Mozambican mother and a Nigerian father and anyone who faced discrimination based on their African heritage.
Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton MacKenzie whose portfolio the beauty pageant is located, entered the fray and proclaimed via Twitter: “I have just returned from Paris and will definitely get more information. We truly cannot have Nigerians competing in our Miss SA competition. I want to get all the facts before I comment, but it gives funny vibes already.”
The red beret said these attacks were deeply concerning and Afrophobic and should be rejected as her eligibility to contest in the beauty pageant should never have been questioned in the first place.
“Secondly, the intense scrutiny and vitriol aimed at Adetshina reveal a continued colonised mindset among many South Africans. The situation reflects remnants of apartheid and colonisation, where divisive ideologies continue to plague our society.
“It is particularly troubling that previous contestants of foreign descent did not face similar scrutiny when they were white or Asian, such as Vanessa Carreira whose parents are Portuguese and Angolan – highlighting a blatant case of Afrophobia,” the party said in a statement.
The party appealed to South Africans to do an introspection on why a young black South African woman should be subjected to such hateful scrutiny and how this could be a deep-seated prejudice.
It highlighted that one of its MPs Naledi Chirwa, born in South Africa to a foreign father and despite her citizenry faced so much hatred while DA’s Natasha Mazzone, whose parents were foreigners was not subjected to the same.
“This disparity highlights the pervasive Afrophobia within our society. People of European, Indian and Asian descent, who even hold public office in South Africa, do not receive the same level of abuse and scrutiny, yet Africans born in South Africa are pariahs in their land of birth,” said the EFF.
It warned that such Afrophobia can precipitate tribalism and the country must remain vigilant. It encouraged South Africans to recognize and celebrate shared humanity and reject divisive forces that seek to sow discord among the people.
“Let us build a future where all South Africans, regardless of their background, are respected and valued for who they are.”
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