South Africa’s Home Affairs claims the mother of Miss SA contestant Chiddima Adetshina committed ‘identity theft’

ZIMSPHERE 

South Africa's Home Affairs ministry has intensified the debate over the nationality of Miss South Africa contestant Chiddima Adetshina, who has foreign roots, alleging that her mother may have committed identity theft. 

Chiddima Adetshina [Image: Miss South Africa Organisation]

This allegation casts uncertainty over Adetshina's participation in the competition—with the new Miss SA set to be crowned on August 10 in Pretoria.

According to government sources, Adetshina's mother is suspected of using another South African woman's identity to register her daughter as a citizen. 

Born in 2001, Adetshina's registration at birth granted her South African citizenship, as per the nation's laws that confer citizenship to those born to South African citizens or permanent residents.

Home Affairs revealed on Thursday that the investigation was prompted by a request from Miss SA organizers, with written consent from Adetshina and her mother, aiming to verify the contestant's citizenship. The inquiry remains ongoing.

"From the information we have uncovered thus far, the Department of Home Affairs can indicate that prima facie reasons exist to believe that fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person recorded in the Home Affairs records Chiddima Adetshina's mother," the statement read. 

"Adetshina could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother, as she was an infant at the time when the activities took place in 2001," Home Affairs stated, absolving the Miss SA contestant whose participation has ignited fierce debates regarding her nationality. 

"An innocent South African mother, whose identity may have been stolen as part of the alleged fraud committed by Adetshina's mother, suffered as a result because she could not register her child."

The ministry stated that the "prima facie" findings come as a result of having "deployed every resource at its disposal to establish the truth," including "archival research, visits to hospitals and site visits" to "verify" the information. 

It said that it is now seeking legal advice on the repercussions of the alleged fraud on Adetshina's citizenship status and that there are "ongoing engagements" with her mother. 

Initial records indicated Adetshina was born in Johannesburg to a South African mother with Mozambican roots and a Nigerian father. 

Her candidacy has elicited a flurry of mixed reactions, with some questioning her nationality due to her foreign parentage.

Miss South Africa entry requirements stipulate that contestants must be South African citizens with valid ID or passport documentation, and dual citizenship details must be disclosed if applicable.