Beauty Queen's Ordeal: Chidimma Adetshina Faces Deportation Battle in South Africa

South African authorities have initiated deportation proceedings against Chidimma Adetshina, the former Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, following her arrest in Cape Town in June for allegedly residing in the country illegally. The 25-year-old model's legal troubles have resurfaced, barely two years after her Nigerian heritage sparked significant public scrutiny and controversy during her participation in the Miss South Africa 2024 pageant.

Ms. Adetshina, born in Soweto to a Nigerian Igbo father and a Mozambican mother, initially advanced to the Top 30 of the Miss South Africa competition. However, escalating backlash led to her withdrawal. Subsequently, organisers of Miss Universe Nigeria invited her to represent Taraba State, a title she won, leading her to fly Nigeria's flag at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico, where she finished as first runner-up and was named Miss Universe Africa and Oceania.

Her immigration status in South Africa had remained unclear until her arrest on June 9 in Summer Greens, Cape Town. She appeared before the Cape Town Regional Court and was released on a warning, with a scheduled return date of July 16. As part of her bail conditions, she was directed to remain at the address of her arrest and to inform the investigating immigration officer of any changes to her residence, employment status, or movements during the ongoing case.

Court documents filed by immigration officer Adrian Jackson outline the Department of Home Affairs' (DHA) case. It is alleged that Ms. Adetshina and her minor son were residing in South Africa without a valid immigration status. Mr. Jackson stated that he was already familiar with Adetshina through an earlier investigation. Following a 'status determination' interview and checks against the DHA's electronic database, it was confirmed that she does not hold any lawful South African residential status, deeming her an 'illegal foreigner' in contravention of the Immigration Act 13 of 2022. Jackson further submitted that she wilfully and intentionally remained resident unlawfully in South Africa.

Mr. Jackson urged the court to approve her continued detention for deportation, enabling the DHA to fulfil its statutory responsibility. This latest legal action follows a decision by Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, who in March dismissed Ms. Adetshina’s application for a review of the department's refusal of her and her son’s request for a letter of good cause, reaffirming the department's original stance.

In his written submission, Minister Schreiber stated that Ms. Adetshina had been notified in September 2024 of the department’s intention to revoke both her and her son’s South African identity documents, to which she failed to respond. He further alleged that she obtained a Nigerian passport on September 20, 2024, while in Nigeria, and subsequently applied for a South African visitor’s visa. This application was rejected because she allegedly submitted a fraudulent bank statement, a rejection she did not appeal.

Minister Schreiber also stated that Ms. Adetshina was declared a 'prohibited person' on December 19, 2024. He alleged that she subsequently re-entered South Africa through the Lebombo border post from Mozambique on June 15, 2024, presenting herself as a South African citizen. Upon re-entry, she applied for a letter of good cause but failed the stipulated good cause test as per Immigration Regulation 30(1), with a prohibited person not qualifying for any visa or permit to remain in the Republic.

The minister likewise rejected the immigration request for Ms. Adetshina’s minor son. As the child's application was submitted as a dependency on hers, his legal status is inextricably linked to hers. Given the rejection of the primary applicant’s request due to her prohibited status and the alleged submission of fraudulent documentation, the minor child possesses no independent basis to remain in South Africa.