South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has announced its decision to revoke the South African identity and travel documents of beauty queen Chidimma Adetshina, following a nationality dispute that arose when she became a finalist in the Miss South Africa pageant.
The controversy, which sparked intense debate and xenophobic backlash, questioned her eligibility due to her Mozambican mother and Nigerian father.
Adetshina, a law student, withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition in August after the Department of Home Affairs stated her mother might have committed “identity theft” to acquire South African citizenship.
Following her withdrawal, Adetshina went on to win the Miss Universe Nigeria title after receiving an invitation to participate in the Nigerian competition.
The Department of Home Affairs on Tuesday, disclosed to a parliamentary committee that Adetshina and her mother would be stripped of their South African identity documents, citing their failure to meet a deadline to prove their eligibility.
The Director-General of the department, Tommy Makhode said, “We are revoking her South African citizenship documents as neither she nor her mother provided adequate reasons to retain them.”
Makhode also confirmed that the case has been referred to the Hawks, South Africa’s special police unit, which investigates serious crimes.
The Hawks reportedly concluded it as a “case of fraud,” and the Department of Home Affairs is now awaiting guidance from prosecutors.
Previously, the department noted that Adetshina was an infant at the time of her mother’s alleged actions, stating that she “could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions.”
However, the investigation has moved forward, putting her nationality under further scrutiny.
Following her victory in the Nigerian pageant, she told the BBC that she identifies as “proudly South African” and “proudly Nigerian.” She has now arrived in Mexico to represent Nigeria in the Miss Universe competition on November 16, where she will compete against contestants from across the globe, including South Africa’s Miss Universe candidate, Mia le Roux.
Adetshina has yet to comment on the revocation.
