Nigeria: 'Chidimma, Go Home' - South Africans Protest Outside Court As Beauty Queen Battles Immigration Case

What the report says

South African protesters gathered outside the Cape Town Regional Court on Wednesday, Aug. 19, as Nigerian beauty queen Chidimma Adetshina’s immigration case came before the court, according to Leadership, republished by AllAfrica. Demonstrators linked to the March and March movement chanted for her to leave South Africa and held placards criticizing her status while the court prepared to rule.

Adetshina was met by reporters and protesters as she arrived and reportedly hurried into the courthouse. The case has renewed public attention on her citizenship and immigration history, which became widely discussed during the 2024 Miss South Africa pageant. She was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a mother of Mozambican descent, and she later withdrew from the competition amid objections to her eligibility.

After leaving Miss South Africa, Adetshina entered the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, won the title and represented Nigeria at Miss Universe. The current dispute centres on South African authorities’ move to detain her pending possible deportation after her June 2026 arrest, when officials alleged she entered the country through the Lebombo border despite being declared a prohibited person. Her legal team has challenged the government’s case, and the court is expected to decide the matter. The dispute has drawn attention in both South Africa and Nigeria, reflecting broader debates over nationality, migration and public treatment of high-profile figures.