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The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) is investigating possible fraudulent activity over former Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Adetshina's citizenship status in South Africa. In a presentation to parliament's home affairs portfolio committee, the department reiterated that prima facie reasons exist to believe fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person recorded at the department as Adetshina's mother. Adetshina's father is also being investigated as he was also involved in her registration of birth.
Advocate Constance Moitse, head of the department’s counter-corruption unit, told MPs that the department has evidence received from hospitals, the department’s own archives, and from municipalities that points to the legitimate South African whose identity was stolen. The evidence suggests fraud and identity theft was committed. An innocent South African mother, whose identity may have been stolen as part of the alleged fraud committed by Adetshina’s mother, suffered as a result because she could not register her child.
As part of its investigation, the department communicated with Adetshina’s mother telephonically but later its calls went unanswered. When its officials visited her home address, she wasn’t there but the family referred them to her lawyers. The department is waiting for her response to the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act letter it issued to her on August 7. Her response will determine the decision the department will take in relation to the ID in her possession.
The department identified three officials who registered the birth at its office in Johannesburg. One of the officials has since died and the department is investigating two others who may have been involved in the alleged fraudulent scheme. The officials are still working for the department.
When the woman gave birth in 2001 and went to register her child at home affairs, she discovered there was a child registered under her ID number. The woman spent months before she could be given a new identity number. When the department visited the address listed for Adetshina’s mother and that of the woman whose ID was stolen, “the information shared by the family of the lady whose ID was stolen in Tshwane matches the details contained in the department’s records.”
