BY: Saneliso Mlambo
The Cape Town Regional Court has reserved judgment in Chidimma Adetshina’s deportation case, with a ruling expected on 19 August 2026, as her legal battle with the Department of Home Affairs continues. The department is seeking a court order to confirm her detention pending deportation, while Adetshina is challenging both her detention and her classification as a prohibited person.
The matter was heard this week after Home Affairs argued that Adetshina is in South Africa without valid immigration status and should remain in detention while deportation proceedings continue. The department also alleged that she re-entered South Africa despite being listed as a prohibited person. These are allegations made by the state and remain the subject of ongoing court proceedings.
Adetshina’s legal team opposed the application, arguing that she was born in South Africa, is not a flight risk and has taken steps to regularise her immigration status. Her lawyer told the court that Home Affairs failed to prove she would evade the legal process and said she was willing to surrender her South African passport if required. The defence also argued that her arrest after returning to South Africa was an “ambush” and maintained that the decision declaring her a prohibited person is under review in the Western Cape High Court.
The dispute stems from the controversy surrounding Adetshina’s citizenship after she entered the 2024 Miss South Africa pageant. Questions over her nationality led to investigations by the Department of Home Affairs, after which she withdrew from the competition. She later represented Nigeria at the Miss Universe pageant, where she finished as first runner-up and earned the Miss Universe Africa and Oceania title.
Following this week’s hearing, Adetshina shared the emotional impact of the prolonged legal battle, saying she felt “exhausted”, “burnt out” and “depressed”, but insisted she would continue fighting the case. Her comments came after the court postponed its decision until next month.