Miss SA finalist’s mom facing identity theft charges

In a shocking turn of events, the South African Department of Home Affairs revealed it intends on pressing criminal charges against implicated parties after prima facie investigation revealed fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person recorded in the records as the mother of Miss South Africa 2024 finalist Chidimma Adetshina.

The announcement was made on Wednesday night after a formal request was lodged with the department on Monday by the Miss SA office to verify Adetshina’s citizenship ahead of the upcoming Miss SA 2024 competition on Saturday, August 10.

Adetshina’s participation in this year’s Miss SA was met with backlash after it was found that her father was Nigerian. It caused division among many and her mother allegedly a Mozambican, with some saying she was not suitable to represent the country. Others argued that, because she’s believed to have been born in SA, it made her a legitimate citizen.

“Upon receiving this request, the department deployed every resource at its disposal to establish the truth. This has included archival research, visits to hospitals and site visits to verify information,” Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said.

Per official statement issued by the department,, Adetshina’s mother is suspected of stealing the identity details of an “innocent South African woman”, and using the stolen identity to register the then-young Adetshina.

The unnamed mother is said to have suffered as a result of the alleged fraud “because she could not register her child”, the department said, adding that it broadened its investigation to identify and pursue any officials involved.

The findings also found Adetshina could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother, as she was an infant at the time (2001).

“This case, which stems from alleged fraudulent activities committed 23 years ago, highlights the urgent need for the digital modernisation of home affairs applications, adjudication and verification processes to insulate the department against fraudulent interference, similar to the reforms undertaken at SARS in the late 2000s,” Schreiber said.

The department said it’s obtaining legal advice on the implications of the alleged fraudulent activity, and “will provide a final update once the investigation is concluded.”

Upon completion of the investigation, Home Affairs intends to press criminal charges against all implicated parties.