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Home Affairs said it has uncovered prima facie evidence that Miss SA contestant Chidimma Adetshina’s mother might have committed identity theft.
The announcement was made on Wednesday in a statement issued by Home Affairs Minister, Leon Schreiber.
It was revealed that Adetshina’s father was ostensibly Nigerian while the 23-year-old’s mother was believed to be from Mozambique.
In a lengthy statement, Schreiber said an innocent South African mother, had her identity stolen as part of the alleged fraud committed by Adetshina’s mother.
He said the department has broadened its investigation to identify and pursue any officials involved in the alleged fraudulent scheme.
“The department is obtaining legal advice on the implications of the alleged fraudulent activity on Adetshina’s citizenship status. Upon the completion of the investigation, Home Affairs intends to press criminal charges,” he said.
He said this stems from alleged fraudulent activities committed 23 years ago, which highlights the urgent need for the digital modernisation of Home Affairs applications.
“The case also highlights the reason for the department’s blocking of certain duplicate IDs, and that the court-ordered unblocking of these documents must be handled with caution.
“Throughout this process, Home Affairs is guided by our commitment to both restoring and upholding the rule of the law as well as the rights of all parties,’’ Schreiber added.
Meanwhile, the Patriotic Alliance (PA) has also launched an investigation into the matter, saying she was not an SA Ambassador.