Citizenship and Belonging in South Africa: Everything We Know about Chidimma Adetshina’s Court Case

Nearly a year after her withdrawal from the 2024 Miss South Africa competition placed her at the centre of a heated debate over nationality and identity, Chidimma Adetshina is once again before a South African court. This time, the focus is no longer on a beauty pageant but on a legal dispute over her immigration status, one that has renewed conversations about citizenship, belonging and the treatment of African migrants in South Africa. 

Adetshina, who later represented Nigeria at the Miss Universe competition after withdrawing from Miss South Africa, appeared before the Cape Town Regional Court as South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs continued its bid to deport her. The department argues that she is unlawfully in the country and is seeking a court order confirming her detention while deportation proceedings continue. Adetshina is challenging that application, with her legal team maintaining that the authorities failed to properly consider alternatives to detention and that she has taken steps to regularise her immigration status. The latest court proceedings, however, did not determine whether Adetshina would remain in South Africa or face deportation. Instead, the matter was postponed after the court considered the implications of a recent Western Cape High Court judgment which found that magistrates do not have the authority to issue warrants for immigration detention, powers that instead belong to immigration officials. The legal question has temporarily stalled proceedings, with the case now expected to return to court on 19 August.

The case traces its origins to July 2024, when Adetshina emerged as a finalist in the Miss South Africa pageant. Although she was born and raised in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a mother of Mozambican origin, her participation quickly became the subject of intense public scrutiny after questions were raised about her nationality. The online debate soon escalated into xenophobic attacks, with many social media users arguing that her Nigerian heritage made her ineligible to represent South Africa despite the pageant organisers stating that she had met all eligibility requirements. As public pressure mounted, South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs launched an investigation into identity documents linked to Adetshina and her mother. The department later said its investigation found evidence suggesting that her mother’s identity documents may have been obtained fraudulently. It also maintained that Adetshina was a child at the time and was not accused of being involved in any alleged wrongdoing.

Amid growing hostility and concerns for her family’s safety, Adetshina withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition, saying the decision was made to protect those closest to her. Her withdrawal did not mark the end of her pageant journey. Weeks later, she accepted an invitation to compete in Miss Universe Nigeria, where she won the national title before representing Nigeria at the Miss Universe competition in Mexico. She finished as first runner-up and was crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, recording Nigeria’s highest ever placement at the international pageant.

Despite that achievement, her immigration status remained under scrutiny. South African authorities later withdrew documents connected to her identity following their investigation, and in June 2026 she was arrested after immigration officials alleged that she was living in the country without lawful status. She was released pending legal proceedings, with conditions requiring her to keep immigration authorities informed of any changes to her residence, employment or movements while the matter remained before the court. The case continues to draw public attention in South Africa, and even beyond, raising questions about immigration, citizenship, identity and xenophobic attacks Adetshina faced after entering the Miss South Africa competition.

The case has been adjourned until 19 August, when the court is expected to continue hearing arguments on Adetshina’s challenge to the deportation proceedings. Until then, the questions surrounding her immigration status remain before the court.