South Africa: Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, Chidimma Adetshina is facing deportation from South Africa, after being arrested for living allegedly in the country illegally. She has been released on warning, while the case proceeds. Authorities said that she entered the country while she was prohibited.
The 25-year-old beauty queen has been caught amongst a prolonged immigration dispute since she was arrested in Cape Town in June 2026, over allegations that she was residing in South Africa without valid immigration status.
At the scheduled hearing on Thursday, July 16, 2026 before the Cape Town Regional Court, Adetshina filed an affidavit explaining the steps she had taken to regularise her stay in the country in a bid to prevent her deportation.
However, the matter has been adjourned until Monday, July 20, 2026 to allow the South African Government file its response to her submissions.
Illegal Citizenship
Legal troubles of Adetshina increased from a citizenship controversy that first gained popularity during her participation in the 2024 Miss South Africa Pageant contest. Questions over her nationality raged widespread debate, prompting her to withdraw from the competition. The case cited concerns for safety of her family and herself.
Chidimma Adetshina later accepted an invitation from the Silverbird Group to compete in the 2024 Miss Universe Nigeria Pageant, where she was crowned as winner. She subsequently represented Nigeria at the Miss Universe competition, finishing as first runner-up, the highest placement ever achieved by a Nigerian contestant.
She was born in Soweto to a Nigerian father of Igbo descent and a Mozambican mother. Her citizenship status has remained the subject of legal scrutiny in South Africa.
Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, Chidimma Adetshina is facing deportation from South Africa, after being arrested for allegedly living in the country illegally.
She has been released on warning, while the case proceeds.
Authorities say she entered the country while being prohibited. pic.twitter.com/U9x1R13fRg
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) July 17, 2026
Officials POV
According to an affidavit filed by immigration officer Adrian Jackson, investigations by the Department of Home Affairs found that Adetshina and her minor son were living in South Africa without any lawful residency.
Jackson said that the immigration officials carried out residency checks and conducted an interview before concluding that she did not possess valid documentation to remain in the country. He argued that her continued stay violated South Africa’s Immigration Act and urged the court to allow her detention pending deportation.
The latest court proceedings follow an earlier decision by South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs – Leon Schreiber, who in March rejected Adetshina’s request to review the department’s refusal to issue her a letter of good cause.
Schreiber said that the department had informed Adetshina in September 2024 of its intention to cancel both her identity documents and those of her son but claimed she failed to respond to the notice.
Continuous Rejections
Minister Schreiber also alleged that she obtained a Nigerian passport before applying for a South African visitor’s visa, using what authorities described as a fraudulent bank statement, leading to the rejection of the application.
According to Schreiber, Adetshina was declared a prohibited person on December 19, 2024, making her ineligible to obtain a visa or any other permit to remain in South Africa. He further alleged that she later re-entered South Africa through the Lebombo border from Mozambique while presenting herself as a South African citizen before seeking further immigration relief.
The minister added that her son’s immigration application was also denied because it was tied to her application and the child had no independent legal basis to remain in the country. The court is expected to continue hearing the matter on Monday, July 20, 2026 after the state files its responding affidavits.