The Department of Home Affairs has released preliminary findings in an ongoing probe into the citizenship status of Miss South Africa finalist Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina, revealing potential identity fraud committed by her mother.
According to a statement released by the Department on Wednesday, “Prima facie reasons exist to believe that fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person recorded in Home Affairs records as Chidimma Adetshina’s mother.”
This revelation comes amidst ongoing public debate about Adetshina’s eligibility for the Miss South Africa title.
The 23-year-old law student has faced scrutiny on social media since her selection as a finalist after it was revealed that the her father was of Nigerian descent. Her mother, according to previous reports, is of Mozambican descent, with a South African citizenship.
However, a new layer of complexity to the controversy surrounding Adetshina’s participation in the Miss South Africa pageant has been introduced.
A probe by The Department of Home Affairs has revealed that Chidimma’s mother may have committed identity theft.
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The investigation, which was initiated following a request from the Miss SA organisers on August 5, has broadened in scope as new information has come to light.
In its statement, The Department of Home Affairs highlighted that Adetshina herself could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother, as she was an infant when the alleged fraud occurred in 2001.
The Department of Home Affairs has stated its intention to press criminal charges against all implicated parties upon completion of the investigation.
ONGOING HOME AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION FINDS PRIMA FACIE INDICATIONS
OF FRAUD COMMITTED BY CHIDIMMA ADETSHINA’S MOTHER@HomeAffairsSAThe Department of Home Affairs herewith provides an update on the ongoing
investigation into the citizenship of Chidimma Adetshina, a contestant in… pic.twitter.com/eCkbZ9T31x— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) August 7, 2024
Immigration specialist Stefanie De Saude Darbandi had previously weighed in on the complexity of the case, stating, “Chidimma meets all the requirements to be a contestant in Miss South Africa, which include being a South African citizen. While the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) records are not always infallible, they do not hastily grant citizenship status.”
The Home Affairs probe brings to light an urgent need for modernisation of the Department’s processes. The statement noted:
“This case, which stems from alleged fraudulent activities committed 23 years ago, highlights the urgent need for the digital modernisation of Home Affairs applications, adjudication and verification processes, to insulate the Department against fraudulent interference.”
Miss South Africa organisers have not yet commented on how these findings might affect Adetshina’s participation in the upcoming pageant.
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Feature Image: Instagram / @chichi_vanessa
