CAPE TOWN — Controversial former Miss South Africa finalist and Miss Universe Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina is facing deportation after being caught allegedly living in Cape Town illegally. The 25-year-old beauty pageant queen appeared in the Cape Town Regional Court following her arrest in Summer Greens on June 9. The Department of Home Affairs is now actively pursuing her removal from the country.
Court papers filed by immigration officer Adrian Jackson reveal that the department’s central law enforcement office identified Adetshina’s whereabouts and determined that she and her minor son were living in South Africa without legal status. Jackson stated in his affidavit that a status determination interview and residency IT systems checks confirmed Adetshina does not hold any lawful residential status. He submitted that she wilfully and intentionally remained in the country in contravention of the Immigration Act.
The legal battle follows a series of setbacks for Adetshina. In March, Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber dismissed her application to review the department’s refusal of a letter of good cause. According to Schreiber, Adetshina was informed as far back as September 2024 that the department intended to cancel her South African identity documents. The Minister further alleged that Adetshina had previously applied for a visitor’s visa using a fraudulent bank statement, which led to her being declared a prohibited person in December last year.
The case has drawn significant public interest due to Adetshina’s high profile and previous controversies surrounding her citizenship. The Department of Home Affairs has taken a firm stance, with Minister Schreiber noting that Adetshina allegedly entered South Africa through the Lebombo border post from Mozambique while presenting herself as a South African citizen using a disputed passport. Because she is considered a prohibited person, she does not qualify for any visa or permit to remain in the Republic.
The implications of the court’s decision will be far reaching for both Adetshina and her minor child. Minister Schreiber clarified that the child’s legal status is inextricably linked to that of the mother, meaning the minor possesses no independent basis to remain in South Africa. The department is now asking the court to confirm her detention to facilitate the formal removal process.
Adetshina was released on a warning and is due back in court on July 16. Her release conditions require her to remain at the address where she was arrested and to notify immigration officials of any changes to her residence or movements. As the July court date approaches, the case continues to highlight the Department of Home Affairs’ intensified efforts to crack down on illegal residency and document fraud.
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