South African authorities have announced that beauty queen Chidimma Adetshina, and her mother might lose their South African citizenship and travel documents and also be prosecuted over the alleged illegal acquisition of nationality documents.
Tommy Makhode, an official at the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), told the South African parliamentary committee on Tuesday, October 29, about the plan to withdraw Adetshina’s identity documents during a parliamentary committee after Adetshina and her mother missed the deadline on Monday, October 28, 2024, to justify their citizenship status and provide reasons why they are eligible for them.
The South African official said the case had been referred to the Hawks, a special police unit that investigates serious crimes, which had concluded that it was a “case of fraud” and added that officials are waiting on prosecutors about how to proceed.
The controversy first arose when Adetshina, whose father is Nigerian and mother is Mozambican, reached the finals of the Miss South Africa pageant. This igniting xenophobic criticism prompted her withdrawal from the pageant in August.
After the revelation in August, the department had said that Adestshina “could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother as she was an infant at the time,” but now she faces possible prosecution for identity theft.
Chidimma set for Miss Universe world competition amid controversy
Despite ongoing discussions regarding her citizenship status, Chidimma Adetshina, the Miss Universe Nigeria, has arrived in Mexico to compete in the prestigious Miss Universe pageant.
She went on to appreciate Nigerians for the support she has received,
“I am overwhelmed by the love and support I have received on this journey… continue to support me on this journey as we uphold this cause together.”
The Miss Universe Nigeria organisers have also appealed to Nigerians to support Chidimma in the ongoing competition by voting for her to win via the Miss Universe website.
The 23-year-old will represent Nigeria at the competition to be held on November 16 and will go up against contestants from across the world, including Mia le Roux, who won the Miss South Africa contest.
