Chidimma Adetshina, former Miss Universe Nigeria, is facing fresh deportation proceedings in South Africa after she was reportedly arrested in Cape Town for allegedly residing in the country illegally.
According to Sunday World, the 25-year-old beauty queen appeared before the Cape Town Regional Court on June 9 following her arrest in the Summer Greens area.
She was released on warning and is expected to return to court next month as South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs pushes for her deportation.
Adetshina has been caught in a long-running citizenship dispute since her participation in the Miss South Africa 2024 pageant sparked public debate over her nationality.
She later withdrew from the competition, citing safety concerns for herself and her family.
Following her withdrawal, Silverbird Group, organisers of Miss Universe Nigeria, invited her to participate in the Nigerian pageant, which she won.
Adetshina went on to represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe pageant and finished as first runner-up, becoming the first Nigerian woman to achieve that position.
Home Affairs moves against Adetshina
Born in Soweto to a Nigerian father of Igbo descent and a Mozambican mother, Adetshina’s legal status in South Africa has remained a subject of controversy.
In court papers, immigration officer Adrian Jackson reportedly stated that authorities had previously investigated Adetshina and confirmed through electronic systems and an interview that she and her minor son were allegedly living in South Africa without lawful status.
Jackson said the affidavit was filed to support reasons for detaining her for deportation to her country of origin.
According to the affidavit, Home Affairs checks allegedly showed that Adetshina did not hold lawful residential status in South Africa.
The latest proceedings follow an earlier decision by South African Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, who in March reportedly dismissed Adetshina’s application to review the department’s refusal of her request for a letter of good cause.
Schreiber said Adetshina had been informed in September 2024 that the department intended to cancel both her and her son’s South African identity documents, but she allegedly failed to respond.
The minister also alleged that Adetshina obtained a Nigerian passport while in Nigeria before applying for a South African visitor’s visa, which was later rejected after authorities claimed she submitted a fraudulent bank statement.
He further said Adetshina was declared a prohibited person on December 19, 2024, making her ineligible for any visa or permit to remain in South Africa.
Schreiber alleged that she later re-entered South Africa through the Lebombo border from Mozambique while presenting herself as a South African citizen before seeking further immigration relief.
He added that her son’s immigration application was also rejected because it was dependent on hers and had no independent legal basis.
Following her court appearance, Adetshina was reportedly ordered to remain at the address where she was arrested and notify investigating immigration officers of any changes to her residence, employment or movement pending the next hearing.
