In a developing story, the Hawks are investigating Chidimma Adetshina, the newly crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, and her mother, Anabela Rungo, over allegations of identity fraud. The South African Department of Home Affairs has announced plans to revoke Adetshina’s South African identity and travel documents, adding complexity to her recent victory in the beauty pageant.
Adetshina left South Africa in August to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria competition, where she emerged victorious. However, her path to this title has been marred by controversy. Prior to her departure, she was compelled to withdraw from the Miss South Africa 2024 pageant due to revelations from Home Affairs regarding possible identity fraud linked to her birth in Soweto.
This week, officials from the Department of Home Affairs provided an update on the ongoing situation during a parliamentary session. They revealed that investigations into Adetshina and her Mozambican mother have progressed significantly, with potential fraud charges looming over the pair.
Home Affairs confirmed that they had completed their investigation and planned to cancel Adetshina’s South African identity and travel documents. This decision comes after both Adetshina and her mother failed to respond to a deadline set by the department, which required them to explain why they should retain their South African documents.
The matter has now been escalated to the Hawks, South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, which will conduct a criminal investigation into the allegations.
In a statement made to Nigerian media in August, Adetshina expressed her intent not to return to South Africa, raising questions about her future as she prepares for the upcoming Miss Universe competition. The situation continues to unfold, leaving many to speculate on its potential impact on her career and the broader implications for identity verification in South Africa.
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