After the Department of Home Affairs announced that it had found indications of fraud whilst investigating the citizenship of Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Adetshina, Radio2000 presenter and entrepreneur, DJ Sbu, has apologized for his previous comments on the matter.
The department released a statement saying that Miss SA had requested the verification of Adetshina’s citizenship with consent from both the contestant and her mother.
The statement read: “From the information we have uncovered thus far, the Department of Home Affairs can indicate that: Prima facie reasons exist to believe that fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person recorded in Home Affairs records as Chidimma Adetshina’s mother.”
The department, however, cleared the contestant herself of any wrong doing, “Adetshina could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions. An innocent South African mother, whose identity may have been stolen as part of the alleged fraud committed by Adetshina’s mother, suffered as a result because she could not register her child.”
Adetshina’s citizenship has been under the microscope since the beginning of July and sparked debate amongst social media users on platforms including X and TikTok, with many claiming that she was not a South African, and calling for her to barred from the Miss SA contest .
DJ Sbu, Prince Kaybee, Pearl Thusi, Somizi Mhlongo, EFF leader Julius Malema, Ntsiki Mazwai, Advocate Thuli Madonsela and Lerato Kganyago received backlash on X after they defended the Miss SA contestant.
Following the Department of Home Affairs statement, DJ Sbu apologized to those he may of offended.
Ladies and gentlemen i present to you DJ Sbu's @djsbu apology. Nithini do we forgive him? 👀#ChidimmaAdetshina #MissSA2024 Naledi Chirwa Foreigners Xenophobia pic.twitter.com/voMj7IKJU7
“Obviously some people are saying that I’m sounding arrogant. I just want to say, I’ve never been arrogant at all. I’m a proponent of advocating for young people’s success, young people going for their dreams.
“I’ve never been anybody that would give out intentionally an attitude of arrogance. I’m humbling myself as the law is taking its course.
“Anybody that I might’ve offended with any of the things that I might’ve said on my social media regarding the Miss SA matter, I would like to apologize and with no excuses,” said DJ Sbu.
The apology was posted on X and social media users reacted.
We forgive him yes on condition that he finds the woman who's identity was stolen,but research must be done before coming on air especially on such sensitive matters.
— Rerorotlhe-Re mmogo (@obakenny) August 8, 2024
Commenting on the apology, @obakenny, said: “We forgive him yes on condition that he finds the woman who's identity was stolen, but research must be done before coming on air especially on such sensitive matters.”
“I love young people” which young people?
— Uphondo {Horn} (@Silwane_KwaZulu) August 8, 2024
Why do celebrities think they know better than normal people? Why was it easy to jump on the other side and not be on the side if young South African people who are kept out of opportunities because of foreigners?
Another user, @Silwane_KwaZulu, said: “’I love young people’ which young people? Why do celebrities think they know better than normal people?
“Why was it easy to jump on the other side and not be on the side if young South African people who are kept out of opportunities because of foreigners?”
I accept this apology from @djsbu. The one I will not accept is the one from Julious. I remember him saying "he does not want our votes", with utter arrogance!
— Tshepo Moila Lehlaka (@MoilaLehlaka2) August 8, 2024
@MoilaLehlaka2 said: “I accept this apology from @djsbu. The one I will not accept is the one from Julious. I remember him saying "he does not want our votes", with utter arrogance!”
It's too later to apologize, he was supposed chill until law take It's cost! Why did he jumped into this matter without knowledge or root cause!
Whilst @DollyBy2 said: “It's too late to apologize, he was supposed chill until law take It's cost! Why did he jumped into this matter without knowledge or root cause!”