Chidimma Adetshina says she was born in South Africa and has applied through legal channels to have her citizenship and immigration status determined.
South Africa’s Home Affairs authorities dispute her right to remain in the country and are seeking her detention pending possible deportation. She was declared a prohibited person after questions arose over her citizenship and documentation.
The controversy began during her participation in the 2024 Miss South Africa competition. Her mother has Mozambican roots and her father is Nigerian; allegations concerning her mother’s documentation became part of the wider citizenship dispute.
The 25 year old withdrew from Miss South Africa, subsequently competed for Nigeria and won Miss Universe Nigeria.
She was arrested in June 2026 after authorities alleged she had re-entered South Africa unlawfully, but she was later released on warning.
On 19 August 2026, the Cape Town Regional Court postponed its decision because her separate High Court challenge to the deportation/prohibited-person decision is still pending. She has been ordered to remain at her address and report regularly to an immigration officer.
Speaking outside court, she said she believed she had been “treated unfairly and targeted” and urged people not to let xenophobia or misinformation influence the legal process.
An important distinction: being born in South Africa does not automatically settle citizenship under South African law. The central legal question is whether Adetshina acquired or retained South African citizenship under the applicable rules and whether the authorities acted lawfully in cancelling her documents and declaring her a prohibited person.
So, she has not been deported. Her legal challenge is continuing, with the next significant proceedings scheduled for February 2027.
