Miss SA
The Miss South Africa Organisation has approached the Department of Home Affairs to verify the citizenship of top 10 finalist Chidimma Adetshina.
With the crowning of the new Miss South Africa only 48 hours away, Adetshina has divided the nation and dominated social media because her status as a South African citizen had been brought under question.
Spokesperson for the Minister of Home Affairs Duwayne Esau says the request from the Miss SA organisation was with the consent of Adetshina and her mother.
He says prima facie reasons exist to believe that fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person recorded in Home Affairs records as Adetshina’s mother;
The Department further states that Adetshina could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother, as she was an infant at the time.
Esau says an innocent South African mother, whose identity may have been stolen as part of the alleged fraud committed by Adetshina's mother, resulted in the actual citizen not being able to register her child.
He says the Department will identify and pursue any officials involved in the alleged fraudulent scheme and is obtaining legal advice on the implications.
Once the investigation is complete, Home Affairs intends to press criminal charges against all the implicated parties.
Esau says the alleged fraud committed 23 years ago highlights the urgent need for the digital modernisation of Home Affairs applications to insulate the Department against such fraud.
There are currently two Miss SA finalists subjected to a public vote for a final spot in the top 10, which might go to both girls if it is decided that Adetshina may not compete.
Chidimma Adetshina was born in Soweto in 2001.
