Chidimma Adetshina announces withdrawal from Miss SA
Earlier this week, the Department of Home Affairs confirmed the 23-year-old's mother may have committed fraud and identity theft.
Chidimma Adetshina. Picture: Instagram/official_misssa
JOHANNESBURG - Chidimma Adetshina, an aspiring Miss South Africa contestant who recently became the subject of an investigation into her nationality, has withdrawn from the pageant.
She made the announcement on her Instagram page on Thursday.
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Adetshina is said to be of Nigerian and Mozambican heritage, but born in South Africa to parents who both have South African residency status.
Earlier this week, the Department of Home Affairs confirmed the 23-year-old's mother may have committed fraud and identity theft.
The department's probe was requested by Miss SA organisers, with the consent of Adetshina and her mother.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber summarised his department's findings so far in a statement on Wednesday night.
"From the information we have uncovered thus far, the Department of Home Affairs can indicate that prima facie reasons exist to believe that fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person recorded in Home Affairs records as Chidimma Adetshina's mother.
"Adetshina herself could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother as she was an infant at the time the activities took place in 2001. An innocent South African mother, whose identity may have been stolen as part of the alleged fraud, suffered as a result because she could not register her child."