The Department of Home Affairs has provided an update on its investigation into alleged fraud and identity theft committed by former Miss SA finalist Chidimma Adetshina’s mother. This includes identifying the woman whose identity was allegedly stolen in the process.
Led by Minister Leon Schreiber, the department also announced that the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) had been roped into the probe.
Chidimma, whose father is Nigerian and whose mother is allegedly Mozambican – has come under fire over questions and concerns about her citizenship.
She has since accepted an invitation to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant.
HOME AFFAIRS: UPDATE ON CHIDIMMA’S MOTHER ALLEGATION
In a tweet posted on Tuesday, 20 August, Newzroom Afrika’s Athi Mtongani shared a report by the Department of Home Affairs into the progress it had made in the investigation.
The report was presented in parliament by the Department of Home Affairs.
Here are highlights of what has been found in the investigation thus far.
- Home Affairs has identified officials who were involved in the fraudulent registration of Chidimma’s birth in 2001. One of them has since passed on. The others are under investigation
- The woman whose identity was allegedly stolen by Chidimma’s mother was registered by her own mother in Tshwane in 1982.
- In 1995, she applied for her ID but discovered that it had been issued at a Johannesburg branch, which she had not visited.
- In 2001, the woman also gave birth to a child. When attempting to register the child’s birth, she discovered that there was already a child registered under her ID number. That child was registered as Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina.
- Home Affairs has since visited both Chidimma’s mother and the woman whose identity was allegedly stolen
- Chidimma’s mother was issued with a Promotion of Administrative Justice Act letter. How she responds to it will determine the way forward with regard to prosecution.
- Home Affairs is seeking legal advice on how this affects Chidimma’s citizenship status.
The report added that the Hawks had been roped into the investigation to help eradicate “fraudulent interference.”
The report by the Department of Home Affairs counters the claims made by Miss Universe Nigeria boss Guy Murray-Bruce.
Speaking to the Nigerian Arise News TV channel, the pageant owner claims that he had spoken directly to Chidimma, who had relayed information that the investigation by Home Affairs was “over.”
He said: “I found out there was no claim whatsoever to that story. She is South African, and so is her mother”.
Murray-Bruce added that Chidimma had a Nigerian passport and was entitled to participate in the competition.
“Her only crime was being half Nigerian, and that’s where the xenophobia comes in.”
He also hinted that the SA government was attempting to “sabotage” Chidimma based on her parentage.
Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber responded to the allegations on his X account over the weekend.
He tweeted: “The investigation into this matter is active and ongoing, and further updates will be provided only through official channels, including in parliament. Don’t fall for social media untruths”.
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE THE FINAL INVESTIGATION WILL UNCOVER ABOUT CHIDIMMA?
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