South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has revealed plans to cancel the identity and travel documents of former Miss South Africa finalist, Chidimma Adetshina, and her mother, Anabela Rungo, who was born in Mozambique.
The decision follows the Adetshinas’ failure to respond to a Monday deadline to explain why their South African documents should not be canceled.
The duo have been embroiled in an alleged identity fraud scandal which forced the now Miss Universe Nigeria to withdraw from the Miss South Africa pageant.
Home Affairs Director-General Tommy Makhode said on Tuesday that they have decided to cancel the pairs’ IDs and travel documents, Yfm reports.
The department also informed Parliament’s portfolio committee on home affairs that the matter is now with the Hawks, who could push for the two to be charged for fraud.
Makhode also revealed that officials visited a house registered under Adetshina to track her mother down, but they found no one there.
“We couldn’t find a trace of the passport that she has been using to come to South Africa from Mozambique on the movement to Nigeria,” said Albert Matsaung, the acting Deputy Director-General for immigration.
This comes just days ahead of Adetshina’s participation in the Miss Universe finale, which will be held in Mexico City on the 17th of next month, where she will be representing Nigeria.
