Photo Credit:Chidimma Adetshina/Instagram
The prestigious Miss South Africa pageant has been engulfed in controversy following accusations of fraud and identity theft against the mother of one of its finalists, Chidimma Adetshina. The 23-year-old law student, who has been the target of xenophobic attacks due to her Nigerian heritage, now faces additional scrutiny as the South African government probes the legitimacy of her citizenship.
Since being named a finalist in July, Adetshina has endured a barrage of online abuse, with critics—including government ministers—questioning her eligibility based on her mixed heritage. In response to the controversy, the Ministry of Home Affairs launched an investigation into her citizenship, revealing potential evidence that Adetshina’s mother might have stolen the identity of a South African woman shortly after Chidimma’s birth.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber stated, “There are reasons to believe that fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person listed as Chidimma Adetshina’s mother in official records. This has resulted in significant harm to the true South African woman, whose identity may have been stolen, preventing her from registering her own child.”
The investigation, which was initiated with the consent of Adetshina and her mother, has now expanded to uncover any officials who might have facilitated the alleged fraud. Despite the findings, the ministry emphasized that Adetshina herself had no Involvement in the alleged crimes, as they occurred when she was an infant.
This development has only intensified the ongoing debate surrounding Adetshina’s participation in the pageant. While some South Africans have rallied in her defense, others have called for her disqualification due to her Nigerian ties, reflecting the broader anti-immigrant sentiment that has increasingly taken hold in the country. South Africa, plagued by high unemployment and slow economic growth, has seen a rise in hostility towards foreigners, particularly those from other African nations.
The Miss South Africa organizers have yet to comment on the investigation’s findings, but they previously affirmed that Adetshina met all eligibility requirements, holding both a South African ID and passport. Adetshina, who has stated she was born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a South African mother of Mozambican descent, is set to compete in the pageant finals this weekend amidst the swirling controversy.
