The Cape Town Regional Court has postponed judgment in the deportation case of former Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Adetshina until February 2027. The court stated it is not in a position to determine the matter until the High Court has ruled on Adetshina's review application against the Home Affairs decision to deport her.

Adetshina, who maintains she was born in South Africa, faces an ongoing legal battle over her immigration status. The 25-year-old's citizenship has been under scrutiny since she became a finalist in the 2024 Miss South Africa competition. She was stripped of her identity and travel documents in 2024 following allegations that her mother, Anabela Rungo, had committed identity fraud to obtain South African nationality. Rungo's South African citizenship was later revoked in 2025.

Court Proceedings and Conditions

The postponement was ordered by Magistrate Reema Khorana, who said the court cannot decide on whether to detain Adetshina pending the High Court review of the deportation decision. As part of the conditions, Adetshina has been ordered to remain at the same address and report regularly to an immigration officer until judgment is delivered.

The government's legal case seeking Adetshina's detention was postponed on Wednesday, with the matter now expected to return to court in February 2027. The postponement gives Adetshina time to pursue her separate legal review of the Home Affairs Department's decision.

Adetshina's Response

Speaking outside the court in Cape Town, Adetshina said she had followed the legal process to establish her citizenship and accused authorities of trying to use her case as an example. "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," she said.

She also warned against allowing xenophobia and misinformation to influence how people are treated. "We should not allow xenophobia and misinformation to determine how people are going to be treated," she stated.

Adetshina previously argued that her home was in South Africa and that she was born in Soweto and grew up in Cape Town, according to earlier interviews. Her mother has Mozambican roots while her father is Nigerian.

Protests Outside the Court

As the hearing took place, supporters of the anti-migrant group March and March gathered outside the court, chanting "Chidimma, go home" and displaying placards with messages such as "She claimed Nigeria and was crowned Ms Nigeria" and "Illegal immigrants are a burden in our country." Some protesters followed Adetshina's car as she left the building.

The beauty queen was met by a crowd of reporters and protesters upon arriving at the court premises and was forced to run into the court to avoid the gathering. Protesters from March and March and Operation Dudula were disgruntled by the court outcome, with some saying they await the final decision on her deportation.

Background of the Case

The controversy over Adetshina's nationality led to her withdrawing from the 2024 Miss South Africa contest. After leaving South Africa in 2024, she accepted an invitation to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, which she won and went on to represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe competition.

In court, South Africa's Home Affairs Department argued that Adetshina applied for a South African visa while she was in Nigeria and obtained Nigerian passports for herself and her son, implying she was not a South African citizen, according to reports in the News24 site. Officials also alleged that she entered South Africa through a border crossing from Mozambique.

Adetshina was arrested in June after allegedly returning to South Africa unlawfully but was later released on warning. Her legal team has disputed the authorities' position.

Legal Context

South African law does not automatically grant citizenship to everyone born in the country. Citizenship by birth depends on the legal status of a person's parents, including whether at least one parent is a South African citizen or permanent resident.

The case has attracted significant attention in both South Africa and Nigeria, with the Cape Town Regional Court expected to determine the matter after the High Court's review is complete.