"Ubuntu Is Suspended": Mashaba Fires Back at Chidimma Adetshina's Plea After Court

• Action SA President Herman Mashaba fired back at Chidimma Adetshina after she invoked ubuntu outside a Cape Town court
• Adetshina made a public appeal for fair treatment, saying she was born in South Africa and had been targeted unfairly
• Mashaba's response reignited the heated debate around illegal immigration and whether ubuntu applies across the board

SOUTH AFRICA - Herman Mashaba, president of Action SA, declared on 19 August 2026 that ubuntu had been "suspended until further notice." The fiery post on X came shortly after Chidimma Adetshina addressed members of the public outside the Western Cape High Court.

Adetshina, a former Miss South Africa contestant and Miss Universe Nigeria titleholder, was attending her own deportation hearing. South African authorities arrested her in June over allegations that she entered or remained in the country unlawfully.

Chidimma calls for 'ubuntu'

Speaking briefly outside the court building, Adetshina reminded those present that she was born in South Africa. She said she believed she had been treated unfairly and called on the public to be guided by reason rather than fear.

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South Africans outraged as Chidimma Adetshina's case gets postponed

"South Africa is governed by the rule of law and we should not allow xenophobia and misinformation to determine how people are going to be treated. We should all be guided by the spirit of ubuntu," she said.

Mashaba pushes back hard

Mashaba wasted little time responding. Action SA has long championed tighter border controls and stricter enforcement against undocumented foreigners in South Africa. For Mashaba, invoking ubuntu in Adetshina's case crossed a line.

His post struck a nerve with many South Africans who have grown increasingly frustrated with what they see as porous borders and weak enforcement, while others felt his reaction was heavy-handed given that the courts had not yet made a final ruling.

See Mashaba's post here:

Mzansi divided over the Ubuntu bebate

South Africans in the comments under Mashaba's post were anything but quiet:

@JusFun_O wrote:

"Now we talking, that's my leadership 🔥🔥"

@MokwadiMo said:

Read also

Miss SA Contestant Chidimma Adetshina Calls for Ubuntu Spirit as Deportation Case Delayed

"Ubuntu is suspended only against Africans"

@Nompu90570329 shared:

"We put our country first. She must go exercise that spirit in her own country. Preach ubuntu while in Nigeria."

@kkabini noted:

"The spirit of ubuntu cannot be abused to support lawlessness. If it was US or other developed nations, Chidimma would still be in Nigeria."

@mufudzi_ asked:

"What about let the courts decide. ActionSA does not believe in the courts?"

March and March call for Chidimma's deportation

Briefly News also reported that crowds of March and March movement supporters descended on the Cape Town Regional Court on Wednesday, 19 August, as a key legal hearing involving former Miss South Africa finalist Chidimma Adetshina got under way. The group gathered outside, singing and chanting, demanding that Adetshina leave the country. Their message was simple: she does not belong in South Africa. The atmosphere outside the court was charged as proceedings inside focused on a single question — should Adetshina be detained while the Department of Home Affairs moves forward with deportation?

Source: Briefly News