Chidimma dodges detention: ‘I have been treated unfairly’

Chidimma Adetshina has sent a message to the public after the Cape Town regional court postponed judgment on whether she should be detained pending deportation.

The South African model and beauty queen has also challenged the Department of Home Affairs’ decision to revoke her South African citizenship.

She is expected to return to court in February 2027.

The 25-year-old was born in Soweto to two immigrants: a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, who is accused of committing identity fraud when registering her birth.

At the time of her birth, neither of her parents had permanent residency in the country.

CHIDIMMA ADETSHINA: JUDGEMENT POSTPONED

On Wednesday, 19 August, the Cape Town Regional High Court postponed final judgment in Chidimma Adetshina’s case to 27 February 2027.

Magistrate Jane Kgorane stated that this was due to the court reviewing the model and beauty queen’s application to the High Court to reinstate her South African citizenship.

Chidimma – a former Miss Universe Nigeria and Miss South Africa finalist – is challenging a bid by the Department of Home Affairs to have her, and her young son, born to a Nigerian foreign national, detained pending deportation. She has argued that she cannot be held liable for her mother’s fraudulent action, stating that both she and her son were born in South Africa and have longstanding ties to the country. She also stated that she should be allowed to resolve her immigration status rather than being deported

The 25-year-old remains out of detention while her High Court bid continues.  She will return to the regional court on 27 February 2027 . 

During proceedings, members of Operation Dudula and March and March staged a protest outside the court, demanding that Nigeria be deported to Nigeria, the home of her father.

‘I HAVE BEEN TREATED UNFAIRLY, AND TARGETED’

Speaking to the media outside court, Chidimma defended her decision to challenge the Department of Home Affairs’s deporation bid.

She said: “I’m grateful that I once again have been able to get an opportunity to have my faith in our courts. I remind everyone that I was born in South Africa. I have applied through the proper legal channels to have my status and citizenship determined.  I believe that I have been treated unfairly and targeted, and there has been an attempt to make me an example.  But my message is not going to be one out of anger. 

“South Africa is governed by the rule of law, and we should not allow xenophobia and misinformation to determine how people are going to be treated. We should always be guided by the spirit of Ubuntu. 

“Throughout this ordeal, I have availed myself of all appropriate legal recourse, and I’ll continue to respect and abide by each process”.