Chidimma Adetshina vows to continue legal fight after case postponed

Former Miss South Africa finalist Chidimma Adetshina has vowed to continue her legal fight over her immigration status, saying she remains committed to using the courts to resolve the matter.

Adetshina was speaking outside the Cape Town Regional Court on Wednesday after the matter was postponed to 27 February 2027.

The former Miss Universe Nigeria contestant said she was grateful for another opportunity to have her case heard through the legal system and maintained that she had followed the proper legal processes to have her citizenship and status determined.

“Firstly, I'd like to say that I am grateful that I once again have been able to get an opportunity to have my faith in our courts,” Adetshina said.

Adetshina was arrested earlier this year in the Summer Greens area of Cape Town. The Department of Home Affairs said its investigations found that she and her minor son were living in South Africa without valid immigration status.

Home Affairs officials said system checks indicated that Adetshina did not hold lawful South African residential status and that she was regarded as an illegal foreigner.

On Wednesday, supporters of March and March gathered outside the Cape Town Regional Court, singing and waiting for the court's decision on whether Adetshina should be detained pending her deportation from South Africa.

Speaking after the proceedings, Adetshina said she believed she had been unfairly treated and targeted during the prolonged dispute.

“I believe that I have been treated unfairly and targeted, and there has been an attempt to make me as an example,” she said.

However, she said she would not allow anger to define her response and called for the rule of law to guide the matter.

“But my message is not going to be one out of anger. South Africa is governed by the rule of law, and we should not allow xenophobia and misinformation to determine how people are going to be treated,” she said.

She also called for the principle of Ubuntu to guide how people respond to the dispute.

“We should all be guided by the spirit of Ubuntu,” she said.

Adetshina said she had used all appropriate legal avenues available to her and would continue to respect the court processes.

“Throughout this ordeal, I have availed myself of all appropriate legal recourse, and I will continue to respect and abide by each process,” she said.

The dispute follows controversy surrounding Adetshina's South African citizenship and immigration status. She withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition in 2024 and later represented Nigeria at the Miss Universe pageant.

She ended her statement by thanking her family, friends, supporters and legal representatives for their continued support.