Nigerian Journal Sustainability Research

'I Was Born in South Africa': Adetshina's Deportation Case Postponed to 2027 Amid Chaotic Court Scenes

2026-08-20
A Case Pushed to Next Year

Chidimma Adetshina, the former Miss South Africa finalist who went on to become Miss Universe Nigeria, will have to wait until February 23, 2027, for the next development in her legal fight over her status in South Africa. The Cape Town Regional Court, presided over by Magistrate Reema Khorana (also reported as Jane Kgorane), postponed the matter on Wednesday, August 19, ruling that it could not yet decide the case because a separate application Adetshina has filed with the Western Cape High Court, challenging the government's decision to revoke her citizenship, needs to be resolved first.

What the Dispute Is Actually About

At the center of the case is a decision by South Africa's Department of Home Affairs to cancel Adetshina's South African citizenship, along with that of her minor son. The department alleges that her citizenship documents were originally obtained through identity fraud involving her mother. Adetshina was arrested in June 2026 after authorities alleged she had re-entered South Africa through the Lebombo border from Mozambique despite having already been declared a prohibited person. The state is now arguing she currently has no legal status in the country and wants her detained while deportation proceedings continue; her legal team is opposing that, arguing she was born in South Africa, has deep ties to the country, and deserves the chance to resolve her status through the courts rather than being detained or removed first.

Adetshina Speaks Out

Addressing reporters outside the courthouse, Adetshina delivered her first extended public comments on the case, striking a composed tone despite the hostility surrounding her. "I would like to say that I am grateful that I have once again been able to get an opportunity to have my faith in our courts. I remind everyone that I was born in South Africa," she said, adding that she had pursued every step of the process through proper legal channels. She said she believed she had been treated unfairly and singled out, describing a sense that authorities were attempting to make an example of her case. She also invoked the South African concept of Ubuntu, urging that the country not let xenophobia or misinformation shape how justice is applied, and stressed that her message wasn't coming from a place of anger.

Protests and a Chaotic Scene Outside Court

The court appearance drew a visible and vocal protest presence. Members of two anti-immigration groups, Operation Dudula and the March and March movement, gathered outside the courthouse chanting "Chidimma, go home" and carrying placards, some reading messages like "She claimed Nigeria and was crowned Ms Nigeria" and "Illegal immigrants are a burden in our country." Adetshina was met by a crowd of protesters and reporters upon arrival and had to hurry into the building to avoid them.

The situation escalated further after the postponement was announced. As Adetshina left the courthouse, protesters surrounded a vehicle believed to be carrying her and threw traffic cones at it, forcing her to leave under the protection of family members present in court, including her mother, Anabela Carlos Runga. Operation Dudula's interim president, Zodwa Booi, was blunt about the group's position, saying the organization opposes "illegal people" in the country regardless of their background, and arguing that if Adetshina wants to be in South Africa, she should apply through the same channels as anyone else. Booi also criticized the court's decision to postpone the case until next year, saying Adetshina should leave the country while the legal process plays out rather than remaining.

A Case That's Become a National Flashpoint

What began as a pageant-world controversy in 2024, when questions first emerged about Adetshina's citizenship during her run in the Miss South Africa competition, has since evolved into one of the country's most closely watched citizenship and immigration disputes. After that controversy, Adetshina went on to represent Nigeria instead, winning the Miss Universe Nigeria title and later finishing as first runner-up at the Miss Universe pageant. Now, with her legal status still unresolved and a high-profile court date pushed out to early 2027, the case continues to sit at the intersection of immigration policy, national identity, and public sentiment in South Africa, with Adetshina remaining free in the country in the meantime, but under significant public pressure and continued uncertainty.

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