ActionSA has urgently reached out to the Department of Home Affairs to seek clarification regarding the circumstances that permitted Chidimma Adetshina’s mother to depart South Africa for Nigeria.

This request comes in the wake of the celebrations surrounding Adetshina’s recent crowning as Miss Universe Nigeria 2024.

The investigation into allegations of fraud and identity theft is primarily centered on Adetshina’s mother.

"As previously mentioned to the portfolio committee on Home Affairs on August 20th, the department has indicated that their inquiry into the fraud and identity theft case is progressing significantly and involves the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation," ActionSA stated.

Suspicious Applications

It is concerning that the primary subject involved in this ongoing investigation was spotted in Nigeria over the weekend during a broadcast of Miss Universe Nigeria.

Given the investigation's focus on evading immigration regulations, it is reasonable to anticipate that travel, particularly to Nigeria, would be limited.

The June 2022 report from the ministerial committee on permits and visas revealed that out of 36,647 fraudulent applications identified, 12,177—approximately one-third—were traced back to Nigeria, highlighting the extent of the issue.

ActionSA asserts that these troubling statistics reflect a significant effort to compromise South Africa's immigration system and sovereignty, and therefore insists that the government adopt a stringent approach to law enforcement, particularly in cases of fraud, such as that involving Chidimma Adetshina’s mother.

Identity Theft

Adetshina's mother, originally from Mozambique, is reported to have sought a valid South African identification in 1995, following the alleged theft of a South African's identity in 1982. Her father hails from Nigeria.

On August 5, the organizers of Miss South Africa reached out to the Department of Home Affairs to investigate Adetshina's citizenship status after she opted out of the pageant just two days prior to the event.

Subsequently, she accepted an invitation from Miss Universe Nigeria to participate in their competition, which she ultimately won with the backing of South African supporters.