Authorities in South Africa are set to revoke the identity and travel documents of Chidimma Adetshina, the Miss Universe Nigeria.
Tommy Makhode, an official at the department of home affairs (DHA), told the South African parliamentary committee on Tuesday about the plan to withdraw Adetshina’s identity documents.
Adetshina was born in 2001 in Soweto at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. Her father is of Igbo descent, while some reports said her mother is a Mozambican who became a naturalised citizen of South Africa.
The model sparked controversy during this year’s Miss South Africa pageant due to her nationality, which led to a surge of criticism on social media, particularly from South Africans.
Adetshina would later withdraw from the Miss South Africa contest.
Her withdrawal came after the DHA alleged that preliminary evidence suggested her mother may have committed fraud and identity theft.
Makhode said Adetshina’s mother would also have her documents cancelled as they had both failed to meet Monday’s deadline to provide reasons why they should be eligible to keep them.
The South African official said the case had been referred to the Hawks, a special police unit that investigates serious crimes, which had concluded that it was a “case of fraud”.
He added that officials are awaiting on prosecutors about how to proceed.
After the revelation in August, the department had said that Adestshina “could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother as she was an infant at the time”.
She has yet to publicly comment on the development but previously denied allegations of identity theft.
The 23-year-old is now in Mexico to represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe competition to be held on November 16.
She will compete against contestants from across the world, including Mia le Roux, who won the Miss South Africa contest.
Chidinma Adetshina
