Chidimma Adetshina walked into the Cape Town Regional Court on Thursday, July 16, 2026, carrying an affidavit meant to answer a question that has followed her for two years: does she belong in South Africa?
The 25-year-old, who represented Nigeria at the Miss Universe pageant and finished as first runner-up in November 2024, has spent the past six weeks fighting a deportation case brought by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs. She was arrested on June 6 at her family’s home in Summer Greens, Cape Town, and first appeared in court three days later, on June 9.
Proceedings on Thursday resumed shortly after 2 p.m. local time. According to eNCA reporter Nobesuthu Hejana, who covered the hearing from inside the courtroom, Adetshina was there to present an affidavit on steps she’s taken to regularize her status in the country.
The department’s case rests on documents filed by immigration officer Adrian Jackson, who told the court he had investigated Adetshina before and, after checking her details against the department’s systems, concluded that neither she nor her young son holds valid legal status in South Africa. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has taken the same position. In March, he rejected her appeal for a “letter of good cause” that would have allowed her to remain despite past violations, writing that the department had notified her in September 2024 of its intent to cancel her identity documents and that she never responded.
The dispute traces back to 2024, when Adetshina, a Miss South Africa finalist that year, withdrew from the pageant after questions arose about her mother’s citizenship documents. She was declared a prohibited person under the Immigration Act on December 19, 2024. Home Affairs later alleged she crossed back into South Africa through the Lebombo border post from Mozambique, presenting herself as a citizen.
Away from the courtroom, the case has played out publicly on social media, where Adetshina has responded to critics with more defiance than distress. Ahead of a June 30 deadline that trolls used to taunt her.
For now, she remains at the Cape Town address where she was arrested, under court order to report any change of residence, employment, or travel.
No ruling came out of Thursday’s hearing. The matter continues.
