Chidimma Adetshina Prominent Miss South Africa 2024 competitor was forced to quit due to accusations of identity theft by her parents. The announcement caused excitement and concern in the pageant industry and triggered debate over the screening procedures used for competitions with such high prestige.
Journey of Chidimma Adetshina
Early this year, Chidimma Adetshina debuted in the South African pageantry scene and immediately won over fans. She was seen as an eligible candidate for the Miss SA title because of her elegance, grace, and support of women’s education. However, when claims about discrepancies in her personal history emerged, her pageantry journey took an unexpected turn.
Investigative journalists Kwena Molekwa initially expressed concern when they observed errors in Adetshina’s background stories from interviews. Provided educational credentials and charitable contributions did not match what was available in the public space. Further research showed that there were no government databases in South Africa with the name “Chidimma Adetshina” in them.
Chidimma Adetshina pulled out of the tournament when her mother was accused of identity fraud. The controversy started when the organizers of Miss South Africa requested that the South African Department of Home Affairs look into Adetshina’s citizenship. The early data uncovered by the investigation points to the possibility that, in 2001, while Adetshina was still a baby, her mother took the identity of a South African woman and committed fraud.
Adetshina faced other challenges as a result of an increase in xenophobic responses following the accusations. Adetshina chose to drop out of the competition even though she was found not to have been directly involved in the alleged fraud, expressing worries for her family’s safety.
You May Also Like
-
Youtube celebrity Yung Filly extradited to perth for serious rape allegations
-
Nigerian music video director and cinematographer TG Omori hospitalized after failed kidney transaplant
-
Tonto Dikeh Molests car vendor after refusing to pay outstanding 2 million car debt
-
Shocking Revelations: Denilson Igwe Spills the Tea on Mark Angel Comedy
To figure out the entire extent of the alleged fraud and identify any authorities who might have been involved, the South African Department of Home Affairs has declared that it will carry out its inquiry. After the inquiry is over, they want to file criminal charges against everyone who was involved.
The South African Department of Home Affairs reviewed and investigated Chidimma Adetshina’s citizenship and the claims of identity fraud that came with it after the public expressed concerns, the Miss South Africa contest organizers requested that Adetshina’s citizenship be confirmed.
This request sparked the start of the investigation. To confirm the legitimacy of the claims, the Department of Home Affairs used several techniques, such as on-site verifications, hospital visits, and research into archives.
Renowned South African social media influencer and Investigative Journalist Kwena Molekwa is well-known for her significant presence on X (formerly Twitter). Since starting her career as an investigative reporter in 2019, she has established herself as a reliable source for breaking news, particularly when it comes to social issues and politics in South Africa. Molekwa is especially well-known for her perceptive analysis and thorough updates on current events.
Apart from her digital impact, she is a part of ActionSA, a political organization in South Africa, where she actively promotes social justice and openness. Among Molekwa’s initiatives are tackling corruption in government agencies and supporting the #SouthAfricanLivesMatter campaign. She has a sizable fan base because of her work, and she has been nominated for several accolades, including the Year’s Best Mzansi Twitter Account.
In addition, Kwena loves animals and is a farmer. She frequently posts on social media about her experiences as a “fur mommy”.
The accusations against Adetshina’s mother, who was charged with using identity fraud to get her daughter’s South African citizenship, were heavily influenced by Molekwa’s observations. Molekwa stressed that though Adetshina was not personally involved in the fraudulent operations, the integrity of South Africa’s citizenship procedures depended on the ongoing investigation. She additionally stressed the importance of Home Affairs taking legal action against any officials or anybody connected to the scam.
Adetshina had no choice but to pull out of the Miss South Africa 2024 competition due to increasing pressure and public attacks. She thanked everyone for their support in a touching statement that she shared on social media, but she gave her family’s safety as her main reason for resigning. Adetshina added, “This journey has been an incredible experience, but I must prioritize my family’s wellbeing.”
A well-known political party in South Africa taking a firm stand on matters about immigration and citizenship is the Patriotic Alliance (PA). In the instance of Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Adetshina, the PA was fundamental to the controversy surrounding her eligibility. Under the direction of Deputy President Kenny Kunene, the PA filed a lawsuit challenging Adetshina’s South African citizenship. The South African Department of Home Affairs inquiry, which revealed evidence of potential identity fraud involving Adetshina’s mother, served as the impetus for this.
Beyond only challenging Adetshina’s eligibility, the Patriotic Alliance attempted to bar her from entering the pageant altogether. Adetshina pulled out of the competition, according to Kunene, after realizing the PA’s lawsuit was probably going to succeed. The PA withdrew its action after she withdrew, claiming that her withdrawal served its purpose.
Gayton McKenzie, the Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture of South Africa has caused a stir in the media by criticizing Chidimma Adetshina, despite being born in Soweto. Known for his fierce opposition to immigration, McKenzie questioned Adetshina’s eligibility because of her Mozambican and Nigerian origin.
The South African Federation of Trade Unions(SAFTU) and others have attacked McKenzie’s statement, “We cannot have Nigerians competing in our Miss SA competition,” as xenophobic, despite Adetshina being a South African native and satisfying all the pageant’s qualifications.
Due to her Nigerian and Mozambican roots, Chidimma Adetshina has now been invited to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 competition even though she was born in Soweto, South Africa. In the official statement, Miss Universe Nigeria Extended support to Adetshina and invited her to participate in the Upcoming pageantry for 2024, indicating that she qualified by Heritage.
