'I’ve been treated unfairly and targeted — Chidimma Adetshina speaks after court postpones deportation case

The dispute dates back to 2024, when Adetshina faced questions over her eligibility to compete in the Miss South Africa pageant because of her family background. She was born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a mother of Mozambican descent.

South Africa's Department of Home Affairs later raised allegations of fraud and identity theft involving her mother's documentation. However, officials acknowledged that Adetshina was an infant at the time of the alleged irregularities and could not have been involved.

Amid intense public scrutiny and controversy surrounding her participation, Adetshina withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition. She subsequently represented Nigeria at Miss Universe Nigeria, where she was crowned, before going on to finish as first runner-up at the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico.

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Her South African identity documents were later withdrawn, with authorities subsequently pursuing legal proceedings relating to her immigration status.

Following her latest appearance at the Cape Town Regional Court, Adetshina addressed supporters and the media outside the court, expressing her concerns about how the matter has been handled.

She said;

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Rather than responding with hostility, the beauty queen called for her case to be determined by South Africa's legal framework rather than public opinion.

She also urged South Africans to uphold the principle of Ubuntu and reject xenophobia and misinformation when dealing with matters involving foreigners and citizenship.

She added;

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Adetshina also expressed gratitude to her family, lawyers and supporters for standing by her throughout the lengthy legal process. She maintained that she has co-operated with the authorities and complied with the requirements of the proceedings.

Her latest court appearance did not bring a final resolution to the matter. The case has been adjourned, with judgment on her immigration status now expected on February 27, 2027.

The development means Adetshina's legal uncertainty over her status in South Africa will continue into 2027, nearly three years after the controversy first emerged.