Chidimma Adetshina’s journey has been anything but ordinary. From Miss South Africa finalist to Miss Universe Nigeria winner, Adetshina is now in a high-stakes fight against deportation from South Africa.
The beauty queen’s ongoing clash with South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has raised tough questions about her citizenship, identity documents, immigration enforcement, and birth registration fraud.
Here’s a clear, chronological breakdown of her immigration case based on public reports, court documents, and official statements. 
Pageant Controversy in 2024
Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina was born on January 8, 2001, in Soweto, South Africa, to a Nigerian father, Michael Adetshina, with permanent residency, and a Mozambican mother, Anabela Rungo. She was brought up and bred in Cape Town.
In July 2024, Adetshina became a finalist in the Miss South Africa Pageant. A video of her celebrating her qualification with her Nigerian family went viral, sparking backlash and questions about her “South African-ness.” Critics, especially the South African Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie questioned her eligibility and then in August 2024, DHA launched an investigation at the request of pageant organisers.
Officials find sufficient initial evidence that her mother allegedly committed identity fraud in 2001 by using a stolen South African identity to register the birth. Although Adetshina was not directly implicated, on August 8, she withdrew from Miss SA citing safety concerns for herself and her family.
In August 2024 Adetshina, who is also a law student, accepted an invitation to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria. Representing Taraba State, she won the pageant. She then went on to represent Nigeria in the Global Miss Universe pageant where she came 1st Runner-Up claiming the title of Miss Universe Africa and Oceania.
Document Revocation and Prohibited Status
In October 2024, the South African Home Affairs revoked Adetshina’s and her son’s South African identity and travel documents following the fraud investigation. On December 19, 2024, she was formally declared a “prohibited person” under the Immigration Act, barring her from visas or permits to remain in South Africa. While she was in Nigeria, she obtained a Nigerian passport before applying for a South African visitor’s visa which was rejected (allegedly due to a fraudulent bank statement).
Escalation and Arrests (2025-2026)
In June 2025, her mother was arrested on charges related to the Immigration Act, the Identification Act, and identity fraud.
In March 2026, the Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber rejected Adetshina’s application to review the refusal of a “letter of good cause.” Authorities claimed she failed to respond to prior notices about the cancellation of her and her son’s documents.
In June 2026 DHAs’ Central Law Enforcement Unit arrested Adetshina in Summer Greens, Cape Town. Officials alleged that she and her son were residing illegally after she reportedly re-entered South Africa via the Lebombo border post from Mozambique, presenting herself as a South African citizen.
Court Battle and Ongoing Deportation Push (June-July 2026)
On June 9, 2026 Adetshina appeared in Cape Town Regional Court. She was released on warning with conditions to remain at the listed address and report any changes in residence, employment, or travel and the case was postponed.
The DHA confirmed through interviews and system checks that she holds no lawful residency status. The department seeks court confirmation of her detention to proceed with deportation to her country of origin.
An affidavit filed by Adrian Jackson, an immigration officer, stated that from earlier investigations, Adestshina and her son were illegally residing in South Africa. The case returned to court on July 16 where she was expected to submit an affidavit explaining the official steps she has taken to regularise her immigration status in South Africa.
As of the time of this report, Adetshina remains in South Africa while contesting the deportation proceedings. The court matter is ongoing, with no final ruling reported yet. She has continued posting on social media, including lifestyle content from Cape Town, while responding to public commentary.
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