Within the ongoing investigation into the citizenship of Chidimma Adetshina, the Division of Dwelling Affairs says prima facie causes exist to imagine that fraud and id theft could have been dedicated by the individual recorded in Dwelling Affairs data as Adetshina’s mom.

Adetshina is a contestant within the upcoming Miss South Africa pageant set to happen on Saturday, 10 August.

In an announcement, the division stated it wished to supply an replace on the continued investigation into the citizenship of Adetshina.

Written consent from each Adetshina and her mom

The explanation for the continued nature of the investigation, in accordance with the division, is that its scope has broadened for the reason that unique request obtained from the organisers of Miss SA, based mostly on the knowledge uncovered by Dwelling Affairs investigators to this point.

“On Monday, the organisers of the occasion despatched the division a request to confirm the citizenship of a contestant, Chidimma Adetshina.

The request was accompanied by written consent from each Adetshina and her mom.

“Upon receiving the request, the division deployed each useful resource at its disposal to determine the reality. This has included archival analysis, visits to hospitals and web site visits to confirm data,” it stated.

From the knowledge the division has uncovered to this point, the Division of Dwelling Affairs has revealed that:

• prima facie causes exist to imagine that fraud and id theft could have been dedicated by the individual recorded in Dwelling Affairs data as Adetshina’s mom.
• Adetshina couldn’t have participated within the alleged illegal actions of her mom, as she was an toddler on the time when the actions came about in 2001.
• An harmless South African mom, whose id could have been stolen as a part of the alleged fraud dedicated by Adetshina’s mom, suffered because of this as a result of she couldn’t register her youngster.

The division has broadened its investigation to establish and pursue any officers concerned within the alleged fraudulent scheme and is acquiring authorized recommendation on the implications of the alleged fraudulent exercise on Adetshina’s citizenship standing.

Legal costs

Upon the completion of the investigation, Dwelling Affairs intends to press felony costs towards all implicated events.

There are ongoing engagements with all stakeholders, together with Adetshina’s mom.

“This case, which stems from alleged fraudulent actions dedicated 23 years in the past, highlights the pressing want for the digital modernisation of Dwelling Affairs functions, adjudication and verification processes, to insulate the division towards fraudulent interference, much like the reforms undertaken on the South African Income Service within the late 2000s.

“The case additionally highlights the rationale for the division’s blocking of sure duplicate IDs and that the court-ordered unblocking of those paperwork have to be dealt with with warning,” stated the division.

All through this course of, Dwelling Affairs stated it was guided by its dedication to each restoring and upholding the rule of regulation in addition to the rights of all events. 

It stated it supplied the general public replace based mostly on the official request obtained from Miss SA, in addition to the consent supplied by each the contestant and her mom.

“We’ll present a remaining replace as soon as the investigation is concluded,” the division stated.