Chidimma Adetshina Challenges South African Deportation Decision Amid Citizenship Dispute

South African beauty queen Chidimma Adetshina has defended her claim to South African citizenship, saying she was born in the country and has been unfairly singled out as authorities pursue her deportation.

The 25-year-old is challenging a decision that classified her as a prohibited person in South Africa. A government legal case seeking her detention was postponed on Wednesday, with the matter now expected to return to court in February 2027.

Speaking outside the court in Cape Town, Adetshina said she had followed the appropriate legal process to establish her citizenship and status.

“I remind everyone that I was born in South Africa,” she said.

She also warned against allowing xenophobia and misinformation to influence the treatment of individuals caught up in citizenship disputes.

Protesters Call for Deportation

Adetshina's court appearance was met by protesters from the anti-migrant group March and March, who gathered outside the courthouse and called for her deportation.

Some protesters followed her vehicle as she left the building, highlighting the intense public debate surrounding her nationality and legal status.

The dispute has attracted significant attention since Adetshina became a finalist in the 2024 Miss South Africa competition.

Citizenship Controversy

Adetshina was born in Soweto and grew up in Cape Town, according to previous interviews. Her mother, Anabela Rungo, has Mozambican roots, while her father is Nigerian.

Questions surrounding her nationality intensified during the Miss South Africa competition, eventually prompting Adetshina to withdraw from the contest.

South African authorities later revoked her identity and travel documents following allegations that her mother had committed identity fraud in order to obtain South African nationality. Rungo's South African citizenship was subsequently revoked in 2025.

South African law does not automatically grant citizenship to everyone born within the country's borders. Citizenship by birth depends on the legal status of the parents, including whether at least one parent is a South African citizen or permanent resident.

From Miss Universe Nigeria to Deportation Dispute

After leaving South Africa in 2024, Adetshina was invited to participate in Miss Universe Nigeria, which she ultimately won.

South African authorities now argue that she subsequently returned to the country unlawfully.

During court proceedings, the Home Affairs Department reportedly said Adetshina had applied for a South African visa while in Nigeria and obtained Nigerian passports for herself and her son. Officials have also alleged that she entered South Africa through a border crossing from Mozambique.

Adetshina has rejected suggestions that she has no legitimate connection to South Africa and has previously described the country as her home.

She was arrested in June after allegedly returning to South Africa unlawfully but was later released on warning.

Legal Battle Continues

The latest postponement gives Adetshina additional time to pursue a separate legal review of the Home Affairs Department's decision concerning her status.

For now, she remains free while the courts consider the competing claims over her citizenship, immigration status and potential deportation.

The case has become a wider debate over citizenship law, immigration enforcement and xenophobia in South Africa, with Adetshina maintaining that her rights must be determined through the legal system rather than public pressure.