South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has announced plans to revoke the identity and travel documents of former Miss South Africa finalist, Chidimma Adetshina, and her Mozambican-born mother.
The department has concluded its investigation into the duo and handed the case over to the Hawks for potential fraud charges.
The decision follows the Adetshinas’ failure to respond to a Monday deadline to explain why their South African documents should not be canceled. Home Affairs Director-General Tommy Makhode revealed that officials visited a property linked to Adetshina in an attempt to locate her mother, who is believed to still be in South Africa.
However, the department is puzzled as to how the mother could have traveled to Nigeria last month to support Adetshina at the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, which she won. Social media posts from the event seem to confirm her presence in Nigeria.
“We couldn’t find a trace of the passport that she has been using to come to South Africa from Mozambique on the movement to Nigeria,” said Albert Matsaung, the acting Deputy Director-General for immigration.