South Africa to strip Chidimma Adetshina of citizenship

Chidimma Adetshina, a law student and beauty queen, has been embroiled in a heated nationality debate.

The controversy began when she competed in the Miss South Africa pageant, sparking questions about her eligibility due to her Nigerian father and Mozambican mother.

Following the Department of Home Affairs’ investigation, Adetshina withdrew from the competition in August.

According to BBC, the department alleged that her mother may have committed “identity theft” to obtain South African nationality.

Undeterred, Adetshina went on to win Miss Universe Nigeria and will represent the country at the Miss Universe competition in Mexico on November 16.

However, the controversy has taken a new turn. The Department of Home Affairs has announced that Adetshina’s South African identity and travel documents will be revoked, along with those of her mother, for failing to meet the deadline to provide reasons for keeping them.

The case has been referred to the Hawks, a special police unit, which has concluded that it’s a “case of fraud.”

Adetshina has maintained that she was born in Soweto, South Africa, and identifies as both South African and Nigerian. The controversy has sparked xenophobic attacks, leaving her in need of therapy.