Cape Town court to rule on Chidimma Adetshina's detention ahead of deportation

The legal drama surrounding former Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Adetshina is reaching a boiling point. On Wednesday, 19 August 2026, the Cape Town Regional Court is expected to deliver a judgment on whether she will remain in custody while deportation proceedings are finalized.

Adetshina’s current legal woes began following her arrest in June. Authorities allege she entered South Africa illegally through the Lebombo border post from Mozambique, despite being flagged as a prohibited person by the state.

The Identity Fraud Allegations

The pageant star's legal standing in the country has been under fire since October 2024. At that time, Home Affairs revoked her travel and identity documents amid claims that her mother had fraudulently registered her birth using a South African woman's identity.

Defending her case, legal representatives have pointed out that even Home Affairs acknowledged the model was not personally at fault for the alleged birth registration fraud. However, her prohibited status also involves a separate visa application issue.

Visa Complications and Re-entry

The court previously heard that a fraudulent bank statement was submitted during a visa application while Adetshina was in Nigeria. Her lawyers maintain that an external immigration agency was responsible for the document and that she was unaware of any wrongdoing.

Home Affairs officials argue that Adetshina re-entered South Africa in 2025 while being on a restricted register. The department is now pushing for her to stay behind bars while they work to remove her from the country.

A Battle for South African Residency

Despite the mounting legal pressure, Adetshina has remained active on social media, projecting a glamorous image to her followers. She has publicly expressed her determination to fight for her right to stay in South Africa.

The situation has sparked mixed reactions across the continent. While some supporters stand by her, others in Nigeria have urged her to drop the legal battle and return home to avoid further public embarrassment for her family and country.