BY SE-ANNE RALL
A legal expert believes Miss South Africa title hopeful Chidimma Adetshina should withdraw from the pageant.
The department of home affairs on Wednesday revealed that her mother has allegedly committed fraud.
The department said it received a request from pageant organisers to verify the 23-year-old’s citizenship.
Department minister Leon Schreiber said an innocent South African mother had her identity stolen as part of the alleged fraud committed by Adetshina’s mother.
“Adetshina could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother, as she was an infant at the time when the activities took place in 2001,” the minister added.
He said upon the completion of the investigation, home affairs intends to press criminal charges against all implicated parties.
Speaking to SABC, MC Radebe & Associates Incorporated director Mkhosi Radebe said the latest developments have a massive impact and called on the department to expedite the investigation.
He said the law is clear: For a person to be South African, they need to be born in the country, with at least one parent being a South African citizen.
Radebe said Adetshina’s participation in the pageant must be suspended because she is affected.
The department has asked for patience while it continues with its investigation.
In a statement on Monday, the ministry said its earlier update was requested by the Miss SA pageant organisers, and indicated that a team was investigating.
The Miss SA 2024 finale is set to take place in Pretoria this weekend.
IOL has reached out to the pageant’s organisers for comment. – IOL News
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