Chidimma Adetshina and her mother are under investigation, leading to the seizure of their identification documents, including IDs and passports.
Duwayne Esau, spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs, clarified that the investigation has now been taken over by the Hawks. “We have issued Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA) letters to both Adetshina and her mother. This is a procedural step before the IDs and passports can be officially retrieved,” Duwayne explained as reported by ZiMOJA.
This is after Chidimma’s mother was spotted during a television broadcast of the Miss Universe Nigeria event. Her appearance in Nigeria has raised questions, with political party ActionSA and MetroFM host Faith Mangope demanding an explanation for her presence abroad, amid the ongoing fraud allegations.
How is it possible that Chidimma Adetshina’s mother was able to leave South Africa when she is subject to a fraud, corruption and Identity theft investigation? #METROFMTALK pic.twitter.com/8eEtEe1afi
— METROFM SABC (@METROFMSA) September 2, 2024
However, according to EWN, Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, further stated that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. He stated that without an arrest warrant or court order restricting travel, authorities cannot decide who can enter or leave the country, and that all legal processes must be completed first.
The comments on X (formerly Twitter) were mixed: some supported the minister’s position, agreeing that legal processes must be followed, while others questioned why Chidimma’s mother was permitted to travel despite the ongoing investigation.
She was not charged with anything, that’s why she was able to leave SA, this isn’t rocket science?
— Dr Sweet_T (@Tsietsi_Mohale) September 2, 2024
Also see: Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina vows to break barriers that divide Africans
