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Former Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, has appeared before a South African court as she continues to challenge efforts by the country’s authorities to deport her over allegations that she is residing in South Africa without legal immigration status.
The 25-year-old beauty queen returned to the Cape Town Regional Court on Thursday, where she filed an affidavit detailing the steps she has taken to regularise her residency as part of her bid to stop the deportation process. The matter was adjourned until Monday to allow the South African government to file its response.
Adetshina has remained at the centre of a citizenship dispute since her participation in the 2024 Miss South Africa pageant, where questions over her nationality triggered widespread public debate. She later withdrew from the competition, citing safety concerns for herself and her family.
She subsequently accepted an invitation from the Silverbird Group to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, where she emerged winner before representing Nigeria at the Miss Universe contest. She finished as first runner-up, becoming the first Nigerian contestant to achieve the feat.
Born in Soweto to a Nigerian father of Igbo descent and a Mozambican mother, Adetshina has faced sustained scrutiny over her immigration status in South Africa.
According to court documents filed by immigration officer Adrian Jackson, investigations by the Department of Home Affairs found that Adetshina and her minor son were living in South Africa without lawful residency.
“It was confirmed that the applicant does not hold any lawful RSA residential status and is thus an illegal foreigner. It is my submission that the illegal foreigner willfully and intentionally remained resident unlawfully in RSA in contravention of the Immigration Act 13 of 2022,” Jackson stated in his affidavit.
The latest court proceedings follow an earlier decision by South African Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, who dismissed Adetshina’s application to review the department’s refusal to issue her a letter of good cause.
Schreiber alleged that Adetshina failed to respond after authorities informed her in September 2024 of plans to cancel both her and her son’s South African identity documents. He also claimed she obtained a Nigerian passport before applying for a South African visitor’s visa using what authorities described as a fraudulent bank statement.
The minister further alleged that she was declared a prohibited person on December 19, 2024, rendering her ineligible for any visa or permit to remain in South Africa. He also claimed she later re-entered the country through the Lebombo border from Mozambique while presenting herself as a South African citizen and subsequently sought further immigration relief.
Her son’s immigration application was also rejected, with authorities arguing that it was dependent on her own status and that the child had no independent legal basis to remain in the country.
The Cape Town Regional Court is expected to resume hearing the matter on Monday after the South African government files its responding affidavits.
