The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that investigations are underway into the citizenship of Miss SA contestant, Chidimma Adetshina.
According to the Department’s Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber, they received an official request from the organisers of the beauty pageant.
“On the basis of this voluntary request and the required consent, we are working to verify and compile the required information. Prior to this request, the Department had not received any complaint about the matter. In all that we do, we are guided by the rule of law. If transgressions are found in this case, they will be handled in strict accordance with legal prescripts. If not, we will accordingly inform the requesters,” said Schreiber.
Miss SA’s inquiry comes amid widespread public outcry over Adetshina’s eligibility to contest in the pageant.
The matter has Mzansi divided across social media platforms, with many calling for her removal while others believe it is within her rights, despite her father’s Nigerian nationality.
Schreiber also assured that transparency will be applied upon the announcement of the findings of these investigations.
“We will also keep the public informed on the outcome of the assessment. Cleaning up Home Affairs to enable it to play its rightful role in national security and economic growth is an enormous task that will require collaboration with the public,” added the Minister.
It remains uncertain whether the Department will have a report before the Miss SA finale, which is set to take place on August 10, at the SunBet Arena, in Pretoria.
