By Biodun Busari
The Nigerian Union South Africa has condemned the verbal assault directed at former Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, outside a court in Cape Town on Monday.
She was subjected to anti-migrant slurs after her appearance before the Cape Town Regional Court earlier this week over allegations of illegal residency in South Africa.
The 25-year-old beauty queen was arrested in Cape Town in June, and judgment was reserved on whether she should be detained pending deportation after hearing arguments from both her legal team and South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs.
Outside the court building, an alleged South African was heard saying, “Go home. Nigeria is your home. Nigeria is your home. We won’t accept you in South Africa.”
Reacting to the verbal abuse on Friday, NUSA National Publicity Secretary, Akindele Olunloyo, said Adetshina’s case was still before the court and she should not be intimidated.
“NUSA rejects and condemns the hostile slurs, verbal abuse, and targeted heckling directed at Chidimma Adetshina outside the Cape Town court,” Olunloyo said.
“We use this opportunity to stress that the matter is before the courts and everyone must allow the legal system to determine her immigration status without interference or intimidation.”
The NUSA spokesperson said citizens of both South Africa and Nigeria should maintain peace and avoid fuelling tension or anti-immigration sentiment.
Earlier in the week, a South African media outlet, The Citizen, reported that the Nigerian vowed not to give up as her deportation case was adjourned until August 19.
The legal team of South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs argued that Adetshina did not have the required immigration documents to remain in the country and should be detained pending deportation.
They also alleged that she was holding a South African passport, which she had refused to surrender despite also holding Nigerian citizenship.
Her prosecutors claimed that she obtained Nigerian passports for herself and her child in Lagos before securing a South African visa and re-entering the country through Mozambique.
However, her legal team rejected the allegations, insisting she was born in South Africa and had no significant ties to Nigeria.
