The Department of Home Affairs says it will cancel former Miss SA finalist Chidimma Adetshina and her mother’s identity (ID) documents and passports as they failed to meet the deadline to make representations on why they should keep the documents.
In August 2024, Adetshina withdrew from the Miss SA pageant out of “fear for her and her family’s safety” following a Department of Home Affairs probe regarding her status in the country.
CHIDIMMA ADETSHINA FAILS TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS TO HOME AFFAIRS
Ahead of the Miss SA pageant, the Department of Home Affairs said there is prima facie indications that the person registered as Adetshina’s mother may have committed fraud and identity theft. As a result, a South African woman whose identity may have been stolen could not register her child.
“Adetshina could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother as she was an infant at the time when the activities took place in 2001,” the department clarified.
After withdrawing from the Miss SA pageant, Adetshina went on to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant which she eventually won. However, questions arose as to how Adetshina and her mother were able to travel outside South Africa amid a probe.
The Department of Home Affairs claimed to have issued Promotion of Administrative Justice Act letters to bother Chidimma Adetshina and her mother.
“This step is before the IDs and passports can be retrieved. The owners of these documents can use them until they have been withdrawn by the department,” it said.
On Tuesday, 29 October, Home Affairs director-general Tommy Makhode told Parliament that Adetshina and her mother failed to meet the deadline (Monday, 29 October) to make representations on why they should keep their South African IDs and passports.
Makhode said they believe Adetshina’s mother is still in South Africa because they couldn’t pick up that her passport has been used.
In addition, the department does not know how she managed to travel to Nigeria to support her daughter who is now in Mexico to partake in the Miss Universe pageant.
DO YOU THINK CHIDIMMA ADETSHINA WILL RETURN TO SOUTH AFRICA AFTER HER REIGN?
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