Former Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, on Thursday appeared before a South African court as proceedings in the government’s bid to deport her resumed.
The 25-year-old beauty queen has been at the centre of a prolonged immigration dispute since she was arrested in Cape Town in June over allegations that she was residing in South Africa without valid immigration status.
At Thursday’s hearing before the Cape Town Regional Court, Adetshina filed an affidavit detailing the steps she had taken to regularise her stay in the country in a bid to prevent her deportation, The Cable reports.
The matter was, however, adjourned until Monday to allow the South African government to file its response to her submissions.
Adetshina’s legal troubles stem from a citizenship controversy that first gained public attention during her participation in the 2024 Miss South Africa pageant.
Questions over her nationality sparked widespread debate, prompting her to withdraw from the competition, citing concerns for her safety and that of her family.
Chidimma later accepted an invitation from the Silverbird Group to compete in the 2024 Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, where she emerged winner.
Chidimma subsequently represented Nigeria at the Miss Universe competition, finishing as first runner-up—the highest placement ever achieved by a Nigerian contestant.
Born in Soweto to a Nigerian father of Igbo descent and a Mozambican mother, Adetshina’s citizenship status has remained the subject of legal scrutiny in South Africa.
According to an affidavit 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.
Jackson stated that immigration officials performed residency checks and held an interview before determining she lacked valid documentation to stay in the country.
He contended that her ongoing presence breached South Africa’s Immigration Act and requested the court to permit her detention before deportation.
The recent court proceedings come after a prior decision by South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, who denied Adetshina’s appeal in March to reconsider the department’s refusal to grant her a letter of good cause.
Schreiber mentioned that the department had notified Adetshina in September 2024 about its plan to revoke her identity documents and her son’s but asserted that she did not reply to the notice.
The minister further claimed that she secured a Nigerian passport prior to applying for a South African visitor’s visa with what officials called a fake bank statement, resulting in the application’s denial.
Schreiber stated that Adetshina was officially deemed a prohibited individual on December 19, 2024, rendering her unqualified for a visa or any form of permission to stay in South Africa.
He also claimed that she subsequently returned to South Africa via the Lebombo border from Mozambique, claiming to be a South African citizen before pursuing additional immigration assistance.
The minister stated that her son’s immigration request was also rejected since it was linked to her application, and the child lacked an independent legal reason to stay in the country.
The court plans to proceed with the hearing on Monday once the state submits its responding affidavits.
