Miss SA Probe: Chidimma Adetshina’s Mum Accused of Identity Theft, Fraud
The South African Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has announced preliminary findings in an investigation concerning the nationality of Chidinma Adetshina, a beauty queen with Nigerian heritage who recently advanced to the final stages of the 2024 Miss South Africa competition.
The controversy erupted in July when Adetshina, 23, qualified for the top 16, sparking debate on social media about her eligibility to compete. Born to Nigerian parents who met in Johannesburg in the late 1990s, Adetshina’s South African citizenship came under scrutiny after Miss South Africa organizers requested an official inquiry into her nationality.
In a statement released on Monday, South African Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber confirmed that the DHA had initiated an investigation following the concerns raised. Late Wednesday, the department revealed in a video statement that Adetshina’s mother is suspected of committing fraud and identity theft.
“From the information we have uncovered thus far, we can indicate that prima facie reasons exist to believe that fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person recorded in Home Affairs records as Chidimma Adetshina’s mother,” the DHA stated.
The investigation further clarified that Adetshina, who was an infant in 2001 when the alleged illegal activities took place, could not have been involved in the actions of her mother. The case has also highlighted the plight of an innocent South African woman, whose identity was potentially stolen, preventing her from registering her own child.
As the investigation continues, the outcome may have significant implications for Adetshina’s participation in the Miss South Africa pageant.
