ActionSA has written an urgent letter to the Department of Home Affairs demanding answers about how Chidimma Adetshina's mother travelled to Nigeria. Chidimma, who was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria on August 31, was joined on stage by her mother, who is currently being investigated for possible fraud and identity theft. The Department found prima facie evidence that the South African ID used to register Chidimma at birth was allegedly stolen from a South African mother.
An update to the investigation into Adetshina's citizenship revealed that a tracing process was followed to identify the Home Affairs officials who may have been involved in the alleged fraud. One of the officials has since passed on, and the Department is currently investigating two other officials who may have been involved.
The Department issued Chidimma Adetshina's mother a letter to explain how she came to be in possession of the South African ID which was used to register her daughter at birth. ActionSA wants to know how the subject of an ongoing fraud and corruption investigation was permitted to leave the country.
The Department stated that their investigation into the case of fraud and identity theft is at an advanced stage and includes involvement by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks). It is alarming that the main subject of this ongoing investigation was seen in Nigeria during a televised broadcast of Miss Universe Nigeria. ActionSA believes these alarming figures highlight widespread efforts to undermine South Africa's immigration regime and sovereignty and demands that the government not take a lax approach to enforcing laws, especially when fraud is uncovered, as in the case of Chidimma Adetshina's mother.
