Court Postpones Deportation Case for Chidimma Adetshina

A Cape Town court has postponed the South African government's bid to detain and deport Chidimma Adetshina until February 2027. The ruling allows for a review of the deportation decision while proceedings continue at the Western Cape High Court. The court declined to confirm Adetshina's detention in the interim.

Adetshina, Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 and a former Miss South Africa finalist, maintains she was born in Soweto and grew up in Cape Town. The Department of Home Affairs stripped her of identity documents in 2024 following allegations that her mother, Anabela Rungo, committed identity fraud to obtain nationality. Government officials argue Adetshina is not a citizen, citing her possession of Nigerian passports and a visa application made while in Nigeria. They further allege she re-entered South Africa illegally via Mozambique.

Outside the court, members of the anti-migrant group March and March protested Adetshina's presence and chased her vehicle as she departed. Adetshina has asserted that she is being targeted and treated unfairly, calling for the rule of law to prevail over xenophobia and misinformation.