South African court delays ruling on Chidimma Adetshina’s deportation
The Cape Town Regional Court in South Africa has postponed its ruling on Chidimma Adetshina’s immigration status and her legal battle to avoid detention pending deportation proceedings.
The court adjourned the case on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, with the next hearing scheduled for February 27, 2027.
Adetshina, a former Miss South Africa contestant and winner of Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, is challenging the South African government’s position on her immigration status.
Adetshina challenges deportation proceedings
The South African government maintains that Adetshina does not currently have valid legal status in the country following the revocation of her citizenship.
Her lawyers, however, are challenging the position and arguing that she has strong ties to South Africa and should be allowed to regularise her immigration status.
They have also highlighted the fact that Adetshina was born in South Africa.
The latest court proceedings took place as members of the anti-immigration group Operation Dudula protested outside the court, demanding that Adetshina be deported to Nigeria.
The group has repeatedly opposed her presence in South Africa amid the long-running controversy surrounding her nationality and immigration status.
Adetshina was arrested on June 6 over allegations that she was illegally residing in South Africa. She is expected to submit an affidavit detailing the steps she has taken to regularise her immigration status.
How the immigration controversy started
The legal dispute dates back to Adetshina’s participation in the 2024 Miss South Africa pageant, when questions surrounding her nationality and her family’s citizenship records attracted widespread attention.
Adetshina was born in Soweto, South Africa, to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother. She entered the Miss South Africa 2024 competition but later withdrew amid controversy over her family’s citizenship documentation.
South African authorities subsequently investigated allegations involving her mother’s identity and citizenship records.
In August 2024, the South African government said Adetshina’s mother may have been involved in identity theft while her daughter was a finalist in the pageant.
The controversy also triggered attacks against Adetshina on social media, including criticism linked to her Nigerian heritage despite her South African birthplace.
Adetshina’s Miss Universe Nigeria success
After withdrawing from the Miss South Africa competition, Adetshina accepted an invitation to participate in Miss Universe Nigeria, representing Taraba State.
She won the national title and subsequently represented Nigeria at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico City.
Also Read: Tinubu Directs EFCC-Recovered Funds, Unclaimed Dividends to NELFUND
Adetshina finished as first runner-up, securing Nigeria’s best-ever placement in the international competition at the time.
Her performance earned widespread praise from Nigerians and public officials. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) also commended her in November 2024 for her resilience and performance.
The latest court case has now returned attention to Adetshina’s unresolved immigration status in South Africa.
Her expected affidavit will outline the steps she has taken to obtain lawful status in the country as she seeks to avoid deportation.
The outcome of the case could determine whether Adetshina remains in South Africa or is ultimately deported to Nigeria, adding another chapter to the controversy that began during the 2024 Miss South Africa pageant.
