The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have expressed deep concern over the escalating Afrophobic attacks directed at Miss South Africa contestant, Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina. The EFF strongly condemned the hate-fueled social media backlash, which stems from Adetshina’s Nigerian heritage despite her being born in South Africa and fully meeting all competition requirements.

In their official statement, the EFF highlighted the troubling persistence of colonial and apartheid-era mentalities that continue to sow division within South African society. The party criticized the scrutiny faced by Adetshina, emphasizing that such vitriol reveals the enduring presence of a colonized mindset among many South Africans.

The EFF drew attention to the fact that previous contestants of foreign descent, who were white or Asian, did not face similar levels of hostility. They pointed out the case of Vanessa Carreira, a former Miss South Africa whose parents are Portuguese and Angolan, as an example of the double standards at play, highlighting the blatant Afrophobia underlying the attacks on Adetshina.

The statement called on South Africans to introspect and question the root causes of such harsh treatment towards a young Black South African woman. The EFF urged society to reject deep-seated prejudices and to embrace unity and solidarity across all African heritage.

The EFF’s call to action was a reminder of the importance of building a future where all South Africans are respected and valued, regardless of their background, and to ensure that all candidates in competitions like Miss South Africa receive equal treatment free from discrimination and bullying.