By Oscar Chukwugekwu
Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, is facing deportation from South Africa after authorities alleged that she had been living illegally in Cape Town.
The 25-year-old beauty queen, who made headlines, after emerging as a finalist in the 2024 edition of Miss South Africa 2024 before withdrawing, following controversy surrounding her citizenship, was arrested earlier this month in the Summer Greens area of Cape Town.
Adetshina appeared before the Cape Town Regional Court on June 9, and was released on warning. She is expected to return to court next month as the Department of Home Affairs continues efforts to secure her deportation.
Court papers filed by immigration officer, Adrian Jackson, outlined the department’s case for detaining Adetshina for the purpose of deportation.
Jackson stated that Adetshina is “known to me through a previous investigation”.
According to the court documents, the Department of Home Affairs’ central law enforcement office traced Adetshina’s whereabouts and allegedly discovered that she and her minor son had been residing in South Africa without legal immigration status.
“In this affidavit, I shall now motivate reasons for deeming it to be in the interest of justice to detain this person for the purpose of deportation to the country of origin.”
The affidavit stated that officials verified Adetshina’s details through the department’s electronic systems and interviewed her to establish her immigration status.
“After the above ‘status determination’ interview and the DHA residency IT systems checks, it was confirmed that the applicant does not hold any lawful RSA residential status and is thus an illegal foreigner.
“It is my submission that the illegal foreigner wilfully and intentionally remained resident unlawfully in RSA in contravention of the Immigration Act 13 of 2022,” Jackson’s affidavit read.
Jackson further asked the court to “confirm the detention of the illegal foreigner for the purpose of deportation in order for the Department of Home Affairs to fulfil its mandate in facilitating the removal of illegal foreigners from the Republic of South Africa”.
The matter is expected to return before the court next month as deportation proceedings continue.