Home Affairs has found evidence that Miss SA contestant Chidimma Adetshina’s mother may have committed identity theft.
The declaration was announced on Wednesday in a statement by Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber.
South Africans questioned Adetshina’s identity due of her Nigerian surname.
Adetshina’s father was reportedly Nigerian, and the 23-year-old’s mother was said to be from Mozambique.
In a long statement, Schreiber claimed that an innocent South African mother’s identity was taken as part of the alleged scam performed by Adetshina’s mother.
He stated that the government has broadened its investigation to identify and prosecute any officials implicated in the alleged fraud scheme.
“The department is obtaining legal advice on the implications of the alleged fraudulent activity on Adetshina’s citizenship status. Upon the completion of the investigation, Home Affairs intends to press criminal,” he said.
He said this stems from alleged fraudulent activities committed 23 years ago, which highlights the urgent need for the digital modernisation of Home Affairs applications.
“The case also highlights the reason for the department’s blocking of certain duplicate IDs, and that the court-ordered unblocking of these documents must be handled with caution.
“Throughout this process, Home Affairs is guided by our commitment to both restoring and upholding the rule of the law as well as the rights of all parties,’’ Schreiber added.
Meanwhile, the Patriotic Alliance (PA) has also launched an investigation into the matter, saying she was not an SA Ambassador.
