Former Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, appeared before the Cape Town Regional Court in South Africa on Thursday as she continues to challenge deportation proceedings against her.
The beauty queen, who made headlines in 2024 after withdrawing from the Miss South Africa pageant amid controversy surrounding her nationality, is reportedly facing deportation after South African authorities alleged that she is living in the country illegally.
Court Appearance
During the court proceedings, Adetshina submitted an affidavit outlining the steps she has taken to regularise her immigration status in South Africa.
According to South African publication Sunday World, Adetshina was previously arrested in Summer Greens and first appeared before the Cape Town Regional Court on June 9. She was later released after the court postponed the matter until July 16, while the Department of Home Affairs allowed her to remain at her current residence pending the outcome of the case.
The hearing reportedly began at around 2:00 p.m. local time, with Adetshina challenging allegations by the Department of Home Affairs that she entered South Africa illegally through an unofficial border crossing.
Allegations by the Department of Home Affairs
Court documents filed by immigration officer Adrian Jackson state that authorities had previously investigated Adetshina and later located her living in South Africa with her minor son.
According to the affidavit, officials conducted immigration status checks and interviewed Adetshina before concluding that she did not hold any valid South African residency status.
The Department of Home Affairs alleges that she is an illegal foreign national residing in South Africa in violation of the country’s Immigration Act.
Jackson further asked the court to approve her continued detention for the purpose of deportation, arguing that the department has a legal responsibility to remove individuals who are unlawfully present in the country.
Previous Immigration Ban
The legal dispute follows an earlier decision by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs to declare Adetshina a prohibited person in December 2024 under the country’s Immigration Act.
Before that decision, she had applied for a review of the department’s ruling, but Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber rejected her appeal in March, upholding the ban.
According to the minister, Adetshina obtained a Nigerian passport while in Nigeria before applying for a South African visitor visa. Authorities allege that her visa application was rejected after she submitted fraudulent bank statements and that she did not appeal the decision.
The minister also claimed that despite the ban, Adetshina later re-entered South Africa from Mozambique through the Lebombo Border Post, allegedly presenting herself as a South African citizen.
Identity Document Controversy
The Department of Home Affairs also stated that it had notified Adetshina in September 2024 of its intention to cancel both her South African identity documents and those of her minor son. Officials claim she failed to respond to that notification.
Authorities further rejected her son’s immigration application, stating that his legal status depended entirely on his mother’s application and that he had no independent legal basis to remain in South Africa.
Wider Immigration Crackdown
Adetshina’s case comes at a time when South Africa has intensified efforts to identify and deport individuals who are unlawfully residing in the country. The government has also faced increasing public pressure from anti-illegal immigration groups calling for stricter enforcement of immigration laws.
The case has attracted significant public attention because of Adetshina’s profile as a former beauty queen and the controversy that surrounded her withdrawal from the Miss South Africa 2024 competition before she went on to represent Nigeria on the international stage.
The matter has been adjourned until July 16, when the court is expected to continue hearing arguments in the deportation case.
