South Africa's Department of Home Affairs has revealed more about the investigation it has launched into the authenticity of Chidimma Adetshina's citizenship.
Ms Adetshina competed in the recently concluded Miss South Africa pageant on August 10 at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria.
Ms Adetshina has withdrawn from the contest won by Mia Le Roux following the alleged identity theft of her mother and the negative reaction from South Africans.
Mia le Roux is the winner of Miss South Africa 2024
On August 8, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Department of Home Affairs has launched an investigation into Ms Adetshina's citizenship following a request from Miss South Africa organisers and an outcry from South Africans.
The Department further announced that its preliminary investigation showed that Ms. Adetshina's mother may have committed fraud.
Following her withdrawal, Ms Adetshina, born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother and now a naturalised South African, received an invitation to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant.
The 300-level law student who accepted the invitation is competing as Miss Taraba State in the ongoing Miss Universe Nigeria pageant which will hold its grand finale on August 31.
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On Tuesday, PSAFLIVE, a South African media outlet, published a statement on its X page regarding Ms Adetshina's ongoing citizenship investigation.
Statement by the Ministry of the Interior
The statement released by the Home Office followed a presentation by Advocate Constance Moitse, head of the Anti-Corruption Unit, to Parliament's Home Affairs Portfolio Committee on the ongoing investigation.
The statement revealed that the South African mother whose identity was allegedly stolen by Ms Adetshina's mother has been identified.
The statement read in part: “The Department relied on its records to establish that the South African mother whose identity may have been stolen was registered by her mother in 1982 and as a result was entered into the National Population Register. Her birth was registered in Tshwane. In 1995, she applied for an identity card. Three months after applying, she returned to the Ministry of Home Affairs to collect the identity card. Upon her return to the Ministry of Home Affairs, she learned that her identity card had been issued in Johannesburg at an office where she had not applied.
“In 2001, she gave birth. When she went to register her child at the Ministry of Home Affairs, she discovered that there was a child registered under her ID number. The child registered was Miss Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina. It was then months before she was given a new ID number. The Ministry of Home Affairs visited the address on the register of Miss Adetshina’s mother and that of the lady whose ID was stolen. The information shared by the family of the lady whose ID was stolen in Tshwane matches the details on the DHA records.”
Legal advice
In addition, the Department indicated that it is obtaining legal advice on the implications of the alleged fraudulent activity on Ms. Adetshina's citizenship status.
The Home Office said the case highlighted the need for caution as the department implements the court order on blocked identity documents.
They said: “On 7 August 2024, Ms Adetshina’s mother received a letter from the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act. Her response to this letter will determine the final decision the Department will make regarding the identity document she currently carries. The Department’s ongoing investigation is also looking at other areas important to a fair and accurate conclusion of this case.
“The Department’s investigation is at an advanced stage. This investigation now includes the involvement of the Priority Crime Investigation Directorate (HAWKS). The Department’s effort towards digitalisation will eliminate cases of fraudulent interference.”
Officials involved
According to the Department, three officials allegedly conspired with Ms. Adetshina's mother to commit the identity theft.
In addition, the Department noted that officials involved in the alleged fraudulent scheme are under investigation.
“The Department has identified the officials who registered the birth at the Home Office in Johannesburg. One of the officials has since passed away. The Department is investigating two other officials who may have been involved in the alleged fraudulent scheme,” the statement added.
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Background
This newspaper reported that the controversy surrounding Ms Adetshina's eligibility began after she entered the pageant.
As she progressed through the competition, she became crucial in the debate over xenophobia and national identity.
Despite calls for her disqualification, pageant organizers confirmed her eligibility.
However, criticism intensified when the video of her wedding was discovered and deemed to violate the contest rules.
According to them, a woman who is married, divorced or a nursing mother is not eligible to compete for Miss South Africa. However, as outlined on their website, the Miss South Africa organization's guidelines clarify that being married, divorced or a mother does not disqualify contestants from participating in the pageant.
Under the South African Citizenship Act, a person automatically qualifies for citizenship if he or she is born in South Africa, if at least one of his or her parents is a South African citizen, or if he or she is adopted by a South African permanent residence permit holder or a South African citizen.
This law provides the legal basis for Ms Adetshina's South African citizenship, as she holds dual citizenship of South Africa and Nigeria.