Chidimma Adetshina, a beauty queen embroiled in a nationality dispute, is set to lose her South African identity and travel documents.
The Department of Home Affairs initiated an investigation into her status after she reached the finals of the Miss South Africa pageant, with critics questioning her eligibility due to her mother’s Mozambican heritage and Nigerian father.
Adetshina withdrew from the competition in August after the department claimed her mother may have committed “identity theft” to obtain South African nationality.
Following this, the law student was invited to compete in Miss Universe Nigeria, where she emerged victorious.
The controversy has ignited a wave of xenophobic backlash in South Africa, leading Adetshina to express to the BBC that she would require therapy to heal from the experience.
On Tuesday, the Department of Home Affairs informed a parliamentary committee about the cancellation of both Adetshina’s and her mother’s ID papers, citing their failure to meet a deadline to justify their eligibility.
Tommy Makhode, a senior official at the department, stated that the case had been referred to the Hawks, a specialized police unit for serious crimes, which has determined it to be a “case of fraud.” Officials are now awaiting guidance from prosecutors on further action.
Previously, the department acknowledged that Adetshina “could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother as she was an infant at the time.”
Adetshina has claimed to have been born in Soweto, South Africa.
After her win in Nigeria, she reaffirmed her identity, stating she feels “proudly South African” and “proudly Nigerian.”
Currently, Adetshina has arrived in Mexico to represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe competition, scheduled for November 16, where she will compete against contestants from around the world, including Mia le Roux, this year’s Miss South Africa winner.
Source-BBC
