The South Africa Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) has begun probing two officials of the Department of Home Affairs over their alleged involvement in the identity theft case against the mother of Chidimma Adetshina.
Chidimma was born in 2001 in Soweto at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. Her father is of Igbo descent in Nigeria while some reports said her mother is a Mozambican who had become a naturalized citizen of South Africa.
The model’s eligibility to participate in this year’s Miss South Africa attracted controversy, with some X users calling for her disqualification.
The controversy prompted an investigation by the South African Ministry of Home Affairs which alleged that Adetshina’s mother may have committed fraud and identity theft.
Following the investigation, Chidimma decided to withdraw from the beauty pageant.
In a recent session, the South Africa parliament’s committee on Home Affairs was informed that Hawks is now involved in the probe.
The ministry said the person whose identity was allegedly stolen has been traced and her citizenship documentations were verified.
It, however, said no supporting documents can be traced for Adetshina’s mother.
The ministry said Adetshina’s mother may have allegedly assumed the identity of a Tshwane woman born in 1982. It said the woman had also given birth in 2001.
The DHA said the woman had applied for her identity document in Pretoria in 1995.
She then returned three months later for collection, but discovered the ID had been issued to someone in Johannesburg.
The ministry also disclosed that it identified three Home Affairs officials involved in the alleged identity theft case while one of them has passed on.
Constance Moitse, the head of Home Affairs’ counter-corruption unit, told members of the parliament that they were still awaiting a response from Adetshina’s mother.
“Her response to this letter will be crucial in determining the department’s final decision regarding the validity of the ID she currently holds,” she said.
Last week, Chidimma accepted an invitation to participate in this year’s Miss Universe Nigeria pageant. (The Cable)
