Chidinma Vanessa Adetshina’s candidacy in the Miss South Africa 2024 competition has sparked controversy following revelations that her mother is suspected of using a false identity.
The South African Department of Home Affairs announced that Adetshina’s mother may have stolen the identity of another woman, falsely claiming South African citizenship alongside her Mozambican roots. The South African Department of Home Affairs has launched an investigation into allegations of fraud and identity theft concerning Adetshina’s nationality.
The controversy centers on the revelation that Adetshina, born to a Nigerian father and a mother with Mozambican roots, may have been registered using fraudulent means. According to a media release from the Department of Home Affairs, the investigation was prompted by widespread social media scrutiny questioning the legitimacy of her South African citizenship and calling for her removal from the Miss SA beauty contest.
On August 5, Miss South Africa pageant organizers formally requested the Department to verify Adetshina’s citizenship status. Preliminary findings suggest that the individual recorded as Adetshina’s mother might have engaged in identity theft. The Department noted, however, that Adetshina, who was a minor at the time, was not implicated in the fraudulent activities.
The investigation has uncovered that a South African woman, potentially the victim of this identity theft, has faced significant difficulties, including an inability to register her child. The Department has expanded its inquiry to identify and prosecute any officials involved in the scheme and is currently seeking legal advice on the potential impact on Adetshina’s citizenship.
“Prima facie reasons exist to believe that fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person recorded as Chidinma Adetshina’s mother,” the Department stated. “Throughout this process, we are guided by our commitment to restore and uphold the rule of law as well as the rights of all parties.”
Adetshina, a 23-year-old law student from Cape Town, was initially met with limited attention in the Top 30 contestants of the pageant. However, the scrutiny intensified after it was revealed that her father did not have South African ancestry. This controversy has sparked talks on xenophobia and black-on-black discrimination within South Africa.
As the Miss South Africa pageant approaches its 66th edition on August 10, where the winner will go on to represent South Africa at Miss Universe 2024, Adetshina’s eligibility remains uncertain. The South African government’s investigation into the alleged fraud could significantly impact her participation.
The Department of Home Affairs has called for the need for modernization in its digital processes to prevent future occurrences of such fraud.
