Beauty queen Chidimma Adetshina, who is facing deportation from South Africa, has reiterated that she was born in the country and believes she has been “treated unfairly and targeted” .
The Cape Town Regional Court on Wednesday postponed judgment on her immigration status and her bid to stop detention pending deportation proceedings, moving the matter to February 27, 2027 . The court said it could not determine the detention issue until the Western Cape High Court has ruled on Adetshina’s separate review application challenging the decision to deport her .
Adetshina, 25, whose mother has Mozambican roots and father is Nigerian, was stripped of her South African identity documents in 2024 after questions around her citizenship were raised when she participated in the Miss South Africa contest . She later withdrew from the pageant and went on to win Miss Universe Nigeria .
“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,” Adetshina said after the hearing .
The pageant contestant added that “we should not allow xenophobia and misinformation to determine how people are going to be treated” – a comment seemingly directed at protesters who gathered outside the court calling for her deportation . The protest was led by anti-migrant group March and March, with demonstrators chanting “Chidimma, go home” and carrying placards reading “Illegal immigrants are a burden in our country” .
South Africa’s Home Affairs department argues that Adetshina applied for a South African visa while in Nigeria and obtained Nigerian passports for herself and her son, implying she is not a South African citizen . Officials also alleged she returned to South Africa illegally via a Mozambican border post .
Adetshina was arrested in June 2026 and released on warning after being accused of re-entering South Africa unlawfully . She remains a free woman until the High Court review is finalised .
Being born in South Africa does not automatically grant citizenship – one of the parents must either be a citizen or permanent resident . Her mother, Anabela Rungo, had her South African citizenship revoked in 2025 following allegations of identity fraud .
