Chidimma Adetshina, the former Miss Universe Nigeria, is facing active deportation proceedings by South African authorities after being arrested for residing in the country without valid legal immigration status.
The 25-year-old beauty queen and her minor son were tracked down in the Summer Greens area of Cape Town by the Department of Home Affairs. Following her arrest, she appeared before the Cape Town Regional Court on June 9, where she was released on a warning. She is scheduled to return to court on July 16 as immigration officials argue that her detention is necessary to facilitate her formal removal to her country of origin.
The legal battle is the culmination of a high-profile nationality row that began in 2024:
- The 2024 Pageant Backlash: Born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, Adetshina faced intense public scrutiny and xenophobic backlash .
- Identity Fraud Investigation: The Department of Home Affairs launched an inquiry that uncovered prima facie evidence that her mother had allegedly committed identity theft to acquire South African citizenship. This forced Adetshina to withdraw from the competition.
- Revocation of Status: Due to the fraud findings, the South African government cancelled the identity and travel documents of both Adetshina and her mother. She was declared a “prohibited person,” legally rendering her unable to qualify for any standard visa or permit.
Recent Legal Escalations
Despite relocating to participate in and win Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, Adetshina later returned to South Africa. Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber dismissed her subsequent application to review her status in March, revealing she had used a Nigerian passport to enter on a visitor’s visa despite her prohibited status.
The Department of Home Affairs maintains that she is an illegal foreigner willfully violating the Immigration Act, prompting their current push to deport her.The government is under increasing pressure to take immediate action against illegal immigrants due to the growing immigration tension.
According to official estimates, there are between 2.4 and 3.1 million foreign-born people living in South Africa.
Although it is difficult to determine the exact number of “illegal” or undocumented immigrants, some independent estimates suggest that there may be 3.96 million undocumented foreigners in the nation.
Over 40,000 illegal immigrants were reportedly detained by authorities for immigration violations between January and June 30, 2026, with over 7,400 of these arrests occurring in a single month.
