Cape Town — Activist, Mayibuye Mandela, is calling on the government to compensate the victim of the alleged identity theft linked to the probe of former Miss SA finalist, Chidimma Adetshina.
Adetshina’s alleged nationality has been a talking point among South Africans for the past few weeks, as it prompted questions over her eligibility to compete in the Miss SA pageant.
Adetshina was born and raised in South Africa by a Nigerian father and South African mother, with Mozambican roots. A probe by Home Affairs found that there was potential fraud and identity theft involving Adetshina’s mother’s identity, and Adetshina subsequently withdrew from the competition.
In a letter, Mandela demanded that the victims of the identity theft should be fully compensated by the government and said the amount reflect the amount of suffering experienced for the fraudulent act.
He suggested R23 million for the past 23 years to address long-term suffering.
Compensation: The affected family, who have suffered for over two decades due to this fraudulent activity, should be compensated no less than 23 million South African Rand by the government. This compensation is a necessary step to address the harm inflicted upon them. pic.twitter.com/0Zbsj3S8TC
— Mayibuye Melisizwe Mandela (@MAYIBUYEMANDEL) August 9, 2024
He called for the arrest of everyone involved in fraudulent activities, including Adetshina’s mother and any home affairs officials who issued the ID.
“This call is specifically for those involved in the crime, not Chidimma Adetshina herself. Addressing this issue is crucial for upholding our institution’s integrity and ensuring justice. I urge swift and decisive action from the Department of Home Affairs and all related state organs,” he said.
According to TimesLIVE, Mandela highlighted the need to address the profound psychological effects and should also restore the dignity and rights of the victim,
He said the victims would have suffered losses of employment opportunities, financial services and social benefits, and the compensation would fix those long-term. damages,
“The psychological and emotional toll of being a victim of identity theft for such an extended period cannot be overstated. The stress, anxiety and emotional suffering experienced require substantial resources for mental health support and counselling,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Ronald Lamola, said the debacle involving Adetshina would have no bearing on South Africa’s diplomatic relations with Nigeria, EWN reported.
He said the ties between the two countries remain strong and that one of South Africa’s most recent bilateral agreements signed with Nigeria, was related to Sports, Arts and Culture.
He insisted that Adetshina’s case related only to eligibility and the Miss SA pageant rules, and should not be interpreted as something that will affect South Africa’s ties with Nigeria.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
