Controversial former Miss South Africa finalist and Miss Universe Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina is facing deportation from South Africa after she was caught allegedly living in Cape Town illegally earlier this month.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old beauty pageant queen made headlines when she became a Miss SA finalist in 2024 and later withdrew her participation after controversy over her citizenship.<\/p>\n
On June 9, she appeared in the Cape Town Regional Court after her arrest in Summer Greens. Adetshina, who was released on a warning, is due back in court next month as the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) pursues her deportation.<\/p>\n
Court papers filed by immigration officer Adrian Jackson set out the department\u2019s case for detaining Adetshina for the purpose of deportation.<\/p>\n
Jackson said Adetshina is \u201cknown to me through a previous investigation\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said the Department of Home Affairs\u2019 central law enforcement office identified Adetshina\u2019s whereabouts and found that she and her minor son were allegedly living in South Africa without legal status.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this affidavit, I shall now motivate reasons for deeming it to be in the interest of justice to detain this person for the purpose of deportation to the country of origin.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the affidavit, officials verified Adetshina\u2019s details against the department\u2019s electronic systems and interviewed her to determine her immigration status.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the above \u2018status determination\u2019 interview and the DHA residency IT systems checks, it was confirmed that the applicant does not hold any lawful RSA residential status and is thus an illegal foreigner,\u201d Jackson\u2019s affidavit reads.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is my submission that the illegal foreigner wilfully and intentionally remained resident unlawfully in RSA in contravention of the Immigration Act 13 of 2022.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jackson asked the court to \u201cconfirm the detention of the illegal foreigner for the purpose of deportation in order for the Department of Home Affairs to fulfil its mandate in facilitating the removal of illegal foreigners from the Republic of South Africa\u201d.<\/p>\n
The latest court proceedings follow an earlier decision by Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber, who in March dismissed Adetshina\u2019s application to review the department\u2019s refusal of her and her son\u2019s request for a letter of good cause.<\/p>\n
In doing so, he upheld the department\u2019s earlier decision.<\/p>\n
In a written response, Schreiber said Adetshina had been informed in September 2024 that the department intended to cancel her and her child\u2019s South African identity documents.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe department notified you of its intention \u2026 in September 2024, and you failed to respond,\u201d Schreiber said.<\/p>\n
He said Adetshina was issued a Nigerian passport while in Nigeria before applying for a South African visitor\u2019s visa.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn 20 September 2024, you were issued with a Nigerian passport number \u2026 whilst you were in Nigeria, and you applied for a South African visitor\u2019s visa, and your application was rejected because you submitted a fraudulent bank statement. You did not appeal the rejection.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schreiber said Adetshina was subsequently declared a prohibited person on December 19, 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of the Immigration Act, a prohibited person does not qualify for any visa or permit to remain in the Republic,\u201d Schreiber said.<\/p>\n
He also alleged that Adetshina later entered South Africa through the Lebombo border post from Mozambique while presenting herself as a South African citizen.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou re-entered South Africa through Mozambique, at the Lebombo border post, on 15 June 2024, presenting yourself as a South African citizen using passport number\u2026 and then applied for a letter of good cause, of which you failed the good cause test as stipulated in the Immigration Regulation 30(1).\u201d<\/p>\n
The minister also rejected the immigration application relating to Adetshina\u2019s son.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the application for the minor child was submitted as a dependency on that of the primary applicant, his legal status is inextricably linked to hers,\u201d Schreiber said.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the rejection of the primary applicant\u2019s request due to her prohibited status and the submission of fraudulent documentation, the minor child possesses no independent basis to remain in the Republic.\u201d<\/p>\n
After her first court appearance, the Cape Town Regional Court released Adetshina on a warning and postponed the matter to July 16.<\/p>\n
As part of her release conditions, she was ordered to remain at the address where she was arrested and to notify the investigating immigration officer of any changes to her residence, employment or movements while the matter is pending.<\/p>\n
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