Chidimma Adetshina, a 25-year-old beauty pageant contestant, continues to contest her deportation from South Africa, asserting that she was born in the country despite official actions seeking her removal. South African authorities designated her a prohibited person in 2024 and have pursued detention as part of deportation proceedings against her. Her citizenship status became contested after she participated in the Miss South Africa pageant, leading to questions about her eligibility given her mother’s Mozambican heritage and Nigerian father.
Adetshina’s identity documents were revoked following the citizenship questions that emerged during her pageant participation. She subsequently departed South Africa and was invited to compete in Miss Universe Nigeria, which she ultimately won. In June of this year, she was arrested upon returning to the country through a Mozambican border crossing, though she was released on warning and accused of unlawful re-entry.
At a court hearing in Cape Town on Wednesday, Adetshina stated she had pursued proper legal avenues to establish her citizenship and status. She characterized her case as an example set by authorities and called for fairness in how individuals are treated, referencing concerns about xenophobia and misinformation. The government’s legal arguments center on her application for a South African visa while in Nigeria and her acquisition of Nigerian passports, suggesting she is not a South African citizen.
The legal proceedings were postponed until February 2027 to allow completion of her review challenging the home affairs department’s deportation decision. Adetshina remains free pending the outcome of this review. Her mother, Anabela Rungo, had her South African citizenship revoked in 2025 following allegations of identity fraud used to obtain South African nationality. Under South African law, birth in the country does not automatically confer citizenship; at least one parent must be a citizen or permanent resident.
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