Why Did South African Government Apologize to Nigeria?
Did the SA Government Apologize to Nigeria?
A few days ago, the South African government issued an apology to Nigeria due to insensitive actions displayed by some South Africans on social media. Many people who weren’t following the situation closely might wonder: why? What exactly prompted this apology?
The controversy began in July when Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina, a Nigerian-South African model and Miss South Africa finalist, was dragged on social media. Despite being born and raised in South Africa, Chidimma faced harsh criticism because her father is Nigerian. Many South Africans expressed that they didn’t want someone with Nigerian roots representing their country. As a result of the intense backlash, Chidimma ultimately withdrew from the competition.
Following this incident, tensions between Nigerians and South Africans escalated, with some South African social media users seeking ways to provoke Nigerians further. On X (formerly Twitter), a trend emerged where South Africans would prank Nigerian Bolt and Uber drivers by ordering rides and then canceling them, mocking the drivers. Unfortunately for them, they openly shared this behavior online.
This behavior infuriated many Nigerians, who launched a countertrend, calling it #BOLT4BOLT. Given that a large number of Nigerians are active on social media, the trend quickly turned against the South Africans. Nigerian users began ordering rides in South Africa and canceling them in retaliation, which disrupted the service significantly.
What Did the South African Government Say in Their Apology to Nigeria?
The South African government apologized for the careless actions of their citizens on social media. They acknowledged that Nigerians had won the #BOLT4BOLT situation and requested that Nigerians cease their retaliatory actions.
South African Governmen: “Congratulations to Nigeria for winning the Bolt to Bolt Challenge! 🇳🇬 Your dedication and spirit are truly inspiring. Now that it’s over, let’s ensure rides stay local — support your own! 🇿🇦 🇳🇬”
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