Former Miss South Africa finalist and Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 Chidimma Adetshina has broken her silence following her latest appearance in the Cape Town Regional Court, where she is challenging efforts by the Department of Home Affairs to deport her from South Africa.
After facing criticism on social media following Thursday’s court proceedings, Adetshina posted a photo of herself on Instagram Stories. When one supporter commented that they were heartbroken by her legal battle, the beauty queen responded simply: “God is there.”
The brief message marks Adetshina’s first public comment since appearing in court.
The legal battle is the latest chapter in a saga that has dominated headlines since 2024, when Adetshina’s participation in the Miss South Africa pageant sparked a national debate about citizenship, immigration and xenophobia.
Born in Johannesburg to a Nigerian father and a mother originally from Mozambique, Adetshina was studying law when she entered Miss South Africa in 2024. Her inclusion in the competition triggered public scrutiny over her nationality because of her Nigerian surname, despite initially meeting the competition’s eligibility requirements.
The controversy intensified after the Department of Home Affairs announced it had found prima facie evidence suggesting Adetshina’s mother, Anabela Rungo, may have committed fraud and identity theft when obtaining South African documentation in 2001. Authorities alleged the documentation was acquired using the identity of another South African woman. Adetshina herself has not been accused of committing the alleged fraud.
Amid mounting public pressure and safety concerns, Adetshina withdrew from Miss South Africa before the final, saying she was putting the wellbeing of herself and her family first. She later accepted an invitation to compete in Miss Universe Nigeria, where she won the national title before representing Nigeria at Miss Universe 2024. She went on to finish as first runner-up and was crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, becoming one of Nigeria’s most successful contestants in the international pageant.
Her family’s legal troubles, however, continued.
In February 2025, her mother was arrested on charges relating to alleged contraventions of the Immigration Act and Identification Act. She was later granted R10,000 bail under strict conditions, including house arrest, while the criminal case proceeded.
Adetshina’s own legal problems escalated this year. In June 2026, immigration authorities arrested her in Cape Town after alleging she was living in South Africa without lawful immigration status. She has since launched legal proceedings challenging the Department of Home Affairs’ attempts to deport her.
During Thursday’s hearing, media were not permitted to film inside the courtroom, although videos later emerged showing Adetshina leaving court surrounded by supporters and media. According to reports, her legal team was expected to present an affidavit detailing the steps she has taken to regularise her immigration status.
The matter was postponed and is expected to return to court next week as both sides continue to argue over her legal status in South Africa.
Despite the ongoing court battle and intense public scrutiny, Adetshina’s only public response after the hearing has been her message of faith: “God is there.”
