Sonke Gender Justice strongly condemns the Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence, TFGBV including bullying and harassment targeted at the Miss South Africa finalist Chidimma Onwe Adetshina, regarding her eligibility to participate in the contest.
Sonke also condemns utterance made by the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton Mckenzie in relation to Adetshina’s participation in the pageant which seek to disregard her nationality as a South African. In response to an inquiry by a social media user on X (formerly twitter) on how he feels about Adetshina’s participation in the pageant he responded by saying that ‘…we truly cannot have Nigerians compete in our Miss SA competition. I want to get all the facts before I comment, but it gives funny vibes already’’. As a public official, Gayton Mckenzie ought to have exercised his power responsibly, in a manner that upholds the laws of this country and protects its citizens.
TFGBV is any act of gender-based violence that is committed, assisted, or aggravated by the use of information and communication technologies, including social media platforms. It disproportionately affects women in public life, including politicians, activists, journalists, and public figures, by undermining their participation in public spaces, silencing their voices, and causing them psychological harm.
Therefore, the comments by Minister Mckenzie regarding Adetshina’s eligibility to participate in the contest have not only subjected her to TFGBV but also pose a significant threat to digital democracy and the participation of women in public life. His actions fit within several harmful elements of TFGBV as follows:
- Reinforcement of harmful norms: The Minister’s comments amplify harmful gender norms and misogynistic attitudes, leading to increased justification and perpetuation of TFGBV. By questioning Adetshina’s eligibility based on her heritage, he reinforces the idea that women, especially those with diverse backgrounds, do not belong in public spaces. This broader impact discourages women from participating in public life and perpetuates gender inequality.
- Isolation of victims: The Minister’s remarks contribute to an environment where Adetshina may find it difficult to receive support or validation, as echo chambers dismiss or trivialize her experiences. This isolation can lead to undue mental stress for her and other women facing similar situations, making it harder for them to seek help and support.
- Amplification of abuse: By making such comments, the Minister provides a platform for perpetrators of TFGBV to find like-minded individuals, emboldening them to continue or escalate their abusive behavior. This amplification of abuse not only affects Adetshina but also creates a more hostile environment for all women in public life, increasing the prevalence of TFGBV.
- Polarization: The Minister’s statements polarize public opinion, deepening societal divides and making it harder to address TFGBV through collective action and policy changes. This polarization hinders efforts to create a unified front against TFGBV and undermines social cohesion.
- Reinforcement of patriarchal norms: The Minister’s actions reinforce patriarchal roles, norms, and structures by discouraging women from stepping into leadership roles and participating in public life. This perpetuates gender inequality and hinders progress towards gender equality, affecting not only Adetshina but also the broader movement for women’s rights.
- Exacerbation of digital authoritarianism: The Minister’s comments contribute to the global trend of growing digital authoritarianism by creating an environment where women are less likely to engage in online spaces. This reduces overall democratic engagement and weakens the democratic process by excluding diverse voices.
- Undermining democratic institutions: The exclusion of women from public life due to TFGBV, exacerbated by the Minister’s remarks, undermines democratic institutions. A healthy democracy relies on the active participation of all its citizens, and the absence of women’s voices weakens decision-making processes and outcomes.
- Eroding trust in democratic processes: When women like Adetshina are targeted with TFGBV, it erodes their trust in democratic processes and institutions, leading to disillusionment and disengagement from political and civic activities. This erosion of trust can have long-term negative effects on democratic participation.
- Impact on community and social cohesion: The hostile environment created by TFGBV, fueled by the Minister’s comments, leads to divisions within communities, reducing social cohesion and making it harder to build consensus on important issues. This impact extends beyond Adetshina to affect the broader society, hindering efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable community.
- Undermining South Africa’s efforts towards gender equality: The Minister’s actions undermine South Africa’s efforts towards gender equality as enshrined in the Constitution. According to Section 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law. The Constitution explicitly prohibits unfair discrimination on grounds including gender and ethnic or social origin1. By making comments that question Adetshina’s eligibility based on her heritage, the Minister is acting contrary to these constitutional principles, thereby undermining the nation’s commitment to gender equality.
Miss South Africa is a beauty pageant which provides a leadership platform for young South African women. Through a pageantry process, contestants receive world-renowned coaching in addition to advanced networking, business and life skills. To qualify to participate in this year’s pageant, one must be at least 20 years old and be under 30 years of age as of 10 August 2024. The applicant must be a South African citizen and in possession of a valid South African ID document or passport.
Chidimma Adetshina, a 23-year-old Miss South Africa finalist with Nigerian and Mozambican lineage is a naturalised South African citizen. Her father is from Nigeria and her mother is South African whilst her maternal grandmother has Mozambican roots. While her parents have Nigerian and Mozambican roots, Adetshina is a naturalised citizen who was born in South Africa and holds valid South African identity documents. Under Chapter 2 of the Constitution of South Africa, ‘’All citizens are— (a) equally entitled to the rights, privileges and benefits of citizenship; and (b) equally subject to the duties and responsibilities of citizenship. Further, the Constitution states that No citizen may be deprived of citizenship’’.
Despite the Miss South Africa organisers confirming that Adetshina has furnished documents that confirm her citizenship, thereby qualifying her to participate in the pageant, she has continued to face criticism, backlash, and TFGBV because of her roots. It is also important to note that several Miss SA contestants with European, English, and Asian lineages have not been subjected to the same online violence directed at Adetshina.
In this regard, Sonke calls on Minister Gayton Mckenzie to:
- Withdraw the utterance he made on his X account that undermine Adetshina’s citizenship rights
- Call out those promoting the online abuse and violation of Aditshena’s rights
Sonke Gender Justice further calls on members of the public to desist from undermining Adetshina’s rights as a South African citizen and subjecting her to further TFGBV, abuse, and harassment, which is harmful to her and undermines the spirit of the constitution.
As South Africans we can do better, we must do better, by being kinder and more compassionate towards one another. Any power that seeks to ‘other’ or oppress another does not have a place in our democracy. Xenophobia and racism are two sides of the same coin, they are a threat to peace and human security.
Issued by Sonke Gender Justice.
For media enquiries contact
Bafana Khumalo, Co-Executive Director, Sonke Gender Justice on bafana@genderjustice.org.za or 082 5784479.
Motshidisi Ramadi, Programmes Director, Sonke Gender Justice on Motshidisi@genderjustice.org.za or 082 443 5586
Note to editors
Sonke is a South African-based non-profit organisation working throughout Africa. We believe women and men, girls and boys can work together to resist patriarchy, advocate for gender justice, and achieve gender transformation. For media releases, reports and news visit https://genderjustice.org.za/ and https://genderjustice.org.za/newsletter-signup/
