Former Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, is facing fresh deportation proceedings after she was reportedly arrested in Cape Town for allegedly residing in South Africa illegally.
Adetshina, 25, was said to have appeared before the Cape Town Regional Court on June 9 following her arrest in the Summer Greens area.
According to Sunday World, the beauty queen was released on warning and is expected to return to court next month as the Department of Home Affairs continues moves to remove her from South Africa.
Her legal status has been the subject of controversy since her participation in the Miss South Africa 2024 pageant sparked debate over her nationality.
She later withdrew from the contest, citing safety concerns for herself and her family, before she was invited by Silverbird Group to participate in Miss Universe Nigeria, which she won.
In an affidavit, immigration officer, Adrian Jackson, alleged that investigations showed Adetshina and her minor son were living in South Africa without lawful status.
“It was confirmed that the applicant does not hold any lawful RSA residential status and is thus an illegal foreigner,” Jackson stated.
“It is my submission that the illegal foreigner willfully and intentionally remained resident unlawfully in RSA in contravention of the Immigration Act 13 of 2022,” he added.
The proceedings followed an earlier decision by South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister, Leon Schreiber, who reportedly dismissed Adetshina’s application to review the department’s refusal of her request for a letter of good cause.
Schreiber alleged that Adetshina had been informed in September 2024 that the department intended to cancel both her and her son’s South African identity documents, but failed to respond.
He also claimed she later obtained a Nigerian passport, applied for a South African visitor’s visa and was declared a prohibited person on December 19, 2024.
Following her court appearance, Adetshina was ordered to remain at the address where she was arrested and inform immigration investigators of any change in her residence, employment or movement pending the next hearing.
