Women Confront Chidimma Adetshina Outside Cape Town Court
Former Miss Universe Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina was confronted by a group of women outside a Cape Town court on Monday, July 21, 2026, as she left proceedings in her ongoing deportation case. The women chanted 'Identity thief, go home' and other anti-immigrant slogans, a scene captured on video that has since gone viral on social media.
The confrontation occurred after Adetshina appeared at the Cape Town Regional Court to contest the South African Department of Home Affairs' bid to have her deported. In the footage, the women can be heard shouting: 'Go home, Nigeria is your home. Identity thief, we wouldn't accept you in South Africa.'
Widespread Condemnation of Xenophobic Behavior
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation online, with many Nigerians and other social media users describing the behavior as xenophobic and calling for accountability. The confrontation adds a new dimension to an already charged case that has followed Adetshina since 2024, when questions about her citizenship forced her withdrawal from the Miss South Africa pageant amid intense public backlash.
Adetshina was arrested in Cape Town last month over allegations that she is residing in South Africa without a valid immigration status. During Monday's proceedings, the Department of Home Affairs pushed for her to be detained in custody pending deportation, a move her legal team successfully challenged for now. The Cape Town Regional Court adjourned the matter until August 19, when a magistrate is expected to deliver judgment on the detention question.
Legal Battle Over Citizenship and Immigration Status
Her lawyers have maintained that she was born in South Africa, has no meaningful ties to Nigeria, and is not a flight risk. The state has alleged that she holds a South African passport she has refused to surrender and re-entered the country through Mozambique using a South African visa after obtaining Nigerian travel documents.
Born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, Adetshina's nationality has been the subject of legal and public scrutiny in South Africa for over a year. After withdrawing from Miss South Africa, she was invited to represent Nigeria at the 2024 Miss Universe pageant, where she finished first runner-up, the highest placement ever achieved by a Nigerian contestant.
Broader Immigration Tensions in South Africa
The chants outside court on Monday reflect a broader tension in South Africa over immigration, a debate that has intensified in recent months amid rising unemployment and social pressure on foreign nationals living in the country. The case continues to draw attention both in South Africa and internationally, with many watching for the court's decision on August 19.
