Chidimma Adetshina tells court South Africa is her only home as protesters call for deportation

Chidimma Adetshina has told the media she was born in South Africa and is challenging the Department of Home Affairs as it seeks to detain and deport her after revoking her citizenship. The model and former beauty queen appeared in the Cape Town Regional High Court on Wednesday, 19 August, where the final judgment in her case was postponed to 27 February 2027.

Home Affairs accuses mother of identity fraud

The Department of Home Affairs alleges that Adetshina’s South African citizenship documents and those of her minor son were obtained through identity fraud by her mother, and says she now lacks a valid legal basis or immigration status to remain in the country. The department has sought to have her detained amid deportation proceedings.

Protests outside court

Anti-immigrant groups, including Operation Dudula and March and March, picketed outside the Cape Town Regional Court during Adetshina’s appearance. Operation Dudula interim president Zodwa Booi told eNCA:

“Chidimma herself decided to come through a Mozambican border to come into the country illegally. We, as Operation Dudula, are saying no to illegal people in our country, regardless of who you are, whether you grew up here. If you are illegal, you need to leave our country and come back when you apply for proper documentation.”

Booi said that if the court reinstated Adetshina’s citizenship it would send the wrong message and added that the postponement to February 2027 was “too long.” March and March founder Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma described Adetshina as a “fraud” in social media comments reported by the media.

Adetshina denies liability and says she was born here

In a statement to the media after the court proceedings, Adetshina defended her legal challenge to have her South African citizenship reinstated. She has argued she cannot be held liable for her mother’s alleged fraudulent actions and said both she and her minor son were born in South Africa and have longstanding ties to the country.

Adetshina said she has applied through legal channels to have her status and citizenship determined and that she believes she has been treated unfairly and targeted. She added:

“I remind everyone that I was born in South Africa. I have applied through the proper legal channels to have my status and citizenship determined. I believe that I have been treated unfairly and targeted, and there has been an attempt to make me an example. But my message is not going to be one out of anger. South Africa is governed by the rule of law, and we should not allow xenophobia and misinformation to determine how people are going to be treated. We should always be guided by the spirit of Ubuntu.”

Tensions and calls to return to Nigeria

Outside court, tensions escalated as protestors mobbed Adetshina and her family, calling on them to return to Nigeria, where her father is from. Adetshina said she should be allowed to resolve her immigration status rather than be deported.

What’s next

The Cape Town Regional High Court postponed final judgment to 27 February 2027 while it reviews Adetshina’s application to the High Court to reinstate her South African citizenship.