Gayton McKenzie Accused of Being Xenophobic for Calling Chidimma Adetshina Nigerian

• The Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, drew the public's ire when he referred to Miss SA finalist Chidimma Adetshina as a Nigerian
• McKenzie responded to a tweet on X in which he called her a Nigerian and said he would find the facts behind the story
• South Africans erupted into a debate, with some siding with him and others calling him out, accusing him of being xenophobic

Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist in Johannesburg, South Africa, has covered policy changes, the State of the Nation Address, politician-related news and elections at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News for over seven years.

JOHANNESBURG — The outspoken and controversial minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, came under fire after referring to Miss SA finalist Chidimma Adetshina as a Nigerian.

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Gayton McKenzie calls Adetshina Nigerian

McKenzie tweeted on his Z account @GaytonMcK that he had returned from Parus and would get more information about the Adetshina saga. Social media erupted after Adetshina was announced as a Miss SA finalist. Adetshina was born and raised in South Africa, has a South African mother and a Nigerian father.

McKenzie said the country cannot have Nigerians compete in the Miss SA competition.

"I wanna get all facts before I comment, but it gives funny vibes already."

View the tweet here:

South Africans call him out

Netizens called him out, and some accused him of being xenophobic.

Madume Africa said:

"Don't be a racist."

Vimlesh Rajbansi said:

"Gayton, you need a spokesperson because you are a minister and can't blurt out xenophobic statements like this."

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Colonel Christ Wyatt said:

"She is not Nigerian. She was born in South Africa. Stop the xenophobic nonsense."

Wanjioru Githiomi said:

"Racist, xenophobic and shallow!"

Baby Smeg said:

"Please speak like a member of the cabinet, not with political rhetoric."

Miss SA confirms Adetshina's citizenship

Similarly, Briefly News reported that Miss SA confirmed that Adetshina is a South African citizen.

This came after social media users called for Chidimma to be removed from the pageant. Miss SA said her documents were checked out.

Source: Briefly News