Beauty pageant sparks South Africa-Nigeria taxi battle

The latest battle between long-time rivals Nigeria and South Africa is playing out on Uber and Bolt – and was allegedly ignited by a beauty pageant. Earlier this month, model Chidimma Adetshina was forced to withdraw from the Miss South Africa contest after xenophobic attacks (although a South African citizen, her father is Nigerian and mother has Mozambican roots). Adetshina instead accepted an invitation to take part in Miss Universe Nigeria, which became the reported spark for a citizen battle waged by smartphones. South Africans took to Uber and Bolt to book and cancel prank rides in Nigeria, and Nigerians swiftly retaliated in kind. Drivers in both countries ran out of patience and petrol – which, in Nigeria, tripled in price in July – while app users were unable to find rides and incurred steep surge pricing due to high “demand”.

Rivalry between two of Africa’s biggest economies has simmered since the end of apartheid, with feuds often fought across economic, cultural and sporting lines. But in recent years tensions have come to a boil as xenophobic attacks rise in South Africa, including on Nigerians and even on fellow South Africans accused of being “too Black to be South African”. This violence is often led by Operation Dudula – a one-time social media campaign that has grown into an active anti-immigrant group, which calls for mass deportations and attacks migrant-owned homes and businesses.

Back at the centre of the storm, the Miss South Africa crown ultimately went to Mia le Roux, the first deaf woman to win the pageant.