In a highly publicized nationality dispute, South African beauty queen Chidimma Adetshina is set to lose her South African identity and travel documents, following a recent decision by the Department of Home Affairs. The 24-year-old, who recently made headlines for winning the Miss Universe Nigeria title, found herself embroiled in controversy after participating as a finalist in this year’s Miss South Africa pageant.
The Department of Home Affairs initiated an investigation into Adetshina’s citizenship status after her appearance in the pageant, sparking debate over her eligibility due to her diverse family background. Adetshina’s mother hails from Mozambique, while her father is Nigerian. In August, after Home Affairs revealed that her mother might have committed “identity theft” to obtain South African citizenship, Adetshina chose to withdraw from the Miss South Africa competition.
This week, Home Affairs director-general Tommy Makhode informed a parliamentary committee of the department’s intention to invalidate Adetshina’s ID documents. According to Makhode, both Adetshina and her mother had failed to meet a deadline on Monday to present sufficient grounds for retaining their citizenship status. With the deadline unmet, the government is moving forward with plans to cancel their identity papers.
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The investigation has also involved the Hawks, South Africa’s specialized police unit focused on severe criminal offenses. Makhode reported that the Hawks’ probe determined the situation to be a “case of fraud.” The department is currently awaiting guidance from prosecutors on further legal steps.
In response to the situation, Adetshina and her mother have so far remained silent. However, she has previously noted that she was born in the South African township of Soweto, and she has expressed pride in her South African and Nigerian heritage.
Despite the controversy, Adetshina’s career has continued to thrive. Following her withdrawal from Miss South Africa, she received an invitation to participate in Miss Universe Nigeria, a pageant she went on to win. Now, Adetshina has arrived in Mexico, where she will represent Nigeria on the international stage at the Miss Universe competition on November 16. There, she will compete alongside contestants from across the globe, including Mia le Roux, this year’s winner of Miss South Africa.
Speaking to the BBC after her recent pageant victory in Nigeria, Adetshina said, “I see myself as proudly South African and proudly Nigerian.” While the nationality dispute may be ongoing, her dual identity remains central to her story as she prepares for one of the world’s most prestigious beauty competitions.
