Categories: Celebrities

South Africa Seeks To Revoke Identity And Travel Documents Of Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina

Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, embroiled in a heated nationality dispute, is set to lose her South African identity and travel documents.

The Department of Home Affairs launched an investigation into her citizenship after she reached the finals in the 2024 Miss South Africa pageant.

Her eligibility was challenged, as critics raised concerns about her mother’s Mozambican origins and her father’s Nigerian heritage.

Chidimma Adetshina withdrew from the competition in August following revelations by the department that her mother may have committed “identity theft” to gain South African citizenship.

Despite the setback, Adetshina, who is studying law, won the 2024 Miss Universe Nigeria after an invitation from the organizers.

The controversy surrounding her identity led to a xenophobic backlash in South Africa, prompting Adetshina to tell the BBC she may need therapy to recover from the experience.

The Department of Home Affairs disclosed to a parliamentary committee on Tuesday that it would be revoking the beauty queen’s ID papers.

According to Tommy Makhode, the department’s director-general, Adetshina, and her mother missed a deadline to justify why they should retain their documents.

The revocation decision has since been referred to the Hawks, a police unit that handles serious crimes, which labeled the case as “fraud” and officials are now awaiting further instructions from prosecutors.

Following the initial announcement in August, the department clarified that Adetshina “could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother as she was an infant at the time”.

Chidimma Adetshina has previously stated she was born in Soweto, South Africa.

After winning Miss Universe Nigeria, Adetshina told the BBC that she considers herself both “proudly South African” and “proudly Nigerian.”

She recently arrived in Mexico to represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe competition, scheduled for November 16, where she will compete alongside global contestants, including Mia le Roux, this year’s Miss South Africa winner.

KanyiDaily recalls that Chidimma Adetshina described her experience at the South Africa pageant as “horrible and heartbreaking”, stressing that she wasn’t accepted by some South Africans because of her Igbo name.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tobias Sylvester

Tobias Sylvester is the news editor for Kanyi Daily News and is based in Lagos. Contact Tobias at editor@kanyidaily.com. Got a confidential tip? Submit it here

Recent Posts

Tunde Ednut React As 38-Year-Old Lady Offers N50m To Any Man Who Would Marry Her [Video]

A 38-year-old Nigerian lady has sparked a flurry of reactions online by offering N50 million…

46 seconds ago

VeryDarkMan Apologizes For Unauthorized Use Of Police Uniform [Video]

Controversial activist VeryDarkMan, known off social media as Martins Otse, has issued an apology to…

1 hour ago

“You Deserve Ferrari” – Regina Daniels Says As She Gifts Friend, Casie Her Dream Car [Video]

Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels has surprised her close friend, Casie Snow, by gifting her a…

2 hours ago

Portable Reacts As He Receives Award From Mayor In Canada [Photos]

Nigerian singer, Portable has landed in Canada after securing a 10-year work permit. Portable, known…

3 hours ago

President Tinubu Appoints Major General Olufemi Oluyede As Acting Chief Of Army Staff

President Bola Tinubu has named Major General Olufemi Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army…

10 hours ago

Abia Reps, Alex Ikwechegh Arraigned For Assaulting Abuja Driver, Granted N500,000 Bail

A Kuje Magistrate Court has granted bail to House of Representatives member Alex Ikwechegh, with…

19 hours ago