Siv Ngesi, a well-known actor and advocate, has taken a stance amidst an intense online discussion following a clip that captured demonstrators surrounding beauty queen Chidimma Adetshina outside the Cape Town Regional Court on Wednesday, 19 August 2026.
The video rapidly garnered attention on X, showcasing a historic street filled with red-brick architecture, flanked by security personnel, media outlets, and a gathering of protesters. Some participants donned the colors of the South African flag, while one individual brandished a sign that read “South Africa is not a refugee site for African Countries.” Tensions were palpable as demonstrators engaged in pushing and crowding.
X user @Fit_Mandisa shared the footage with the caption:
“This should be normalised until people like Chidimma Adetshina leave South Africa. She must never get peace.”
View the video here:
Siv Ngesi’s response to the Chidimma Adetshina video
On 20 August 2026, Ngesi, known for his outspoken views on immigration, addressed the situation directly, clarifying his stance. While he supports the departure of undocumented immigrants, he does not condone harassment.
“I am pro illegal people leaving SA! But we cannot normalise violence and embarrassing another human!” he wrote.
His remarks triggered a division of opinion online, prompting many South Africans to assert that Ngesi remained disconnected from the current climate. See the post that fueled the controversy here:
Public reactions to Siv Ngesi’s stance
Responses to Ngesi’s comments poured in quickly. Here are a few notable viewpoints:
@LadyMpopi challenged Ngesi’s viewpoint:
“We don’t have ‘buts’ in our intolerance of illegal immigration. She chose to commit a crime by entering SA illegally and staying while prohibited. She’s the wrong one.”
@winstonterrance was direct in his critique:
“Then you only ‘pro’ on Twitter, not on the ground because on the field this is the language we speak.”
@HoopTakes2 expressed frustration towards Ngesi:
“Sho Siv. It’s for you ones to comment on how the work is being done. Leave it to them to get the work done since you lot are more suited to yapping your important intellectual mouths about how the work you should be doing is being done. Leave it to them.”
@NtombikayiseBa6 expanded on the discussion:
“Can foreigners normalise not taking advantage of our kindness and actually respect our laws? Maybe we will be nice🤷♀️”
@ChazIssat addressed Chidimma directly:
“This woman has a very bad heart. Shows no remorse for ‘what her mother did’. Instead, she wants to be parading for the spotlight. Broke another law by entering SA illegally when she was banned. She feels so special she made Nigeria rig a pageant competition. She is just vile (Evil).”
