While Miss SA pageant organisers have yet to comment on the latest developments on title hopeful, Chidimma Adetshina, a legal expert believes she should pull out of the event.
On Wednesday, the Department of Home Affairs revealed that her mother allegedly committed fraud. The DHA said it received a request from pageant organisers to verify the 23-year-old beauty’s citizenship.
In a statement, DHA Minister Leon Schreiber, said an innocent South African mother, had her identity stolen as part of the alleged fraud committed by Adetshina’s mother.
"Adetshina could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother, as she was an infant at the time when the activities took place in 2001," the Minister added.
He said upon the completion of the investigation, Home Affairs intends to press criminal charges against all implicated parties.
Speaking to SABC, MC Radebe & Associates Incorporated director Mkhosi Radebe, said the latest developments have a massive impact and called on the DHA to expedite the investigation.
He said the law is clear; for a person to be South African, they need to be born in the country with at least one parent being a South African citizen.
Radebe said Adetshina's participation in the pageant must be suspended because she is affected.
He said the allegations of fraud have thrown a spanner in the works, and based on the prima facie evidence, in his view, Adetshina is not a South African and should not have been allowed to take part in the pageant.
The DHA has asked for patience while it continues with its investigation.
In a statement on Monday, the Ministry said its earlier update was requested by the Miss SA pageant organisers and indicated that a team was investigating.
"To safeguard the integrity of the process, the department will, however, not be commenting publicly again until we are in a position to announce the final outcome of the inquiry," the department said.
The Miss SA 2024 finale is set to take place in Pretoria his weekend.
IOL has reached out to Miss SA pageant organisers for comment.
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