Chidinma Adetshina’s mom accused of fraud and identity theft by Home Affairs
The South African Home Affairs Department reveals that the mother of the Miss SA finalist Chidinma Adetshina was involved in fraud and identity theft.
Chidinma’s participation in the Miss SA competition has sparked a huge controversy and garnered people’s internationally.
On Wednesday, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber shared the details of the prima facie evidence.
“The organisers of the event sent the department a request to verify the citizenship of a contestant, Chidimma Adetshina. This request was accompanied by written consent from both Adetshina and her mother.”
“This has included archival research, visits to hospitals, and site visits to verify information.”
“From the information we have uncovered thus far, the Department of Home Affairs can indicate that prima facie reasons exist to believe that fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person recorded in Home Affairs records as Chidimma Adetshina’s mother,” Schreiber said.
Schreiber said Chidinma is innocent as she was an infant when the fraud was committed by her mother.
“An innocent South African mother, whose identity may have been stolen as part of the alleged fraud committed by Adetshina’s mother, suffered as a result because she could not register her child.
“The Department has broadened its investigation to identify and pursue any officials involved in the alleged fraudulent scheme and is obtaining legal advice on the implications of the alleged fraudulent activity on Adetshina’s citizenship status and upon the completion of the investigation, Home Affairs intends to press criminal charges against all implicated parties,” Schreiber said.
“This case, which stems from alleged fraudulent activities committed 23 years ago, highlights the urgent need for the digital modernisation of Home Affairs applications, adjudication and verification processes to insulate the Department against fraudulent interference, similar to the reforms undertaken at the South African Revenue Service in the late 2000s.”
“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,” Schreiber said.
