Identity theft probe into Chidimma's mother still active, says Schreiber

Cape Town – Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has refuted claims that the investigation into alleged identity theft by the mother of Miss Universe Nigeria contestant Chidimma Adetshina has been dropped.

Chidimma’s father is reported as Nigerian, while her mother, believed to be from Mozambique, allegedly used a South African’s identity fraudulently.

Schreiber said that the investigation is still active, despite comments from Guy Murray-Bruce, president of the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, suggesting the case was dismissed.

“I had a discussion with her and she said that was being investigated. There was absolutely no claim to that story. Her mother is South African. I don’t know if it was cooked up, I have no idea,” Murray-Bruce said during an interview with news channel.

He said that Chidimma informed him that her mother is South African and that the case against her was dropped after an investigation confirmed this.

Murray-Bruce, believes the situation was twisted and suspects that Chidimma’s success in the pageant led to efforts to remove her from the competition.

The controversy began when the Department of Home Affairs suspected fraud related to Chidimma’s mother’s South African citizenship, leading to Adetshina’s withdrawal from the Miss South Africa pageant.

Schreiber assured that updates would be provided through official channels.

“The investigation into this matter is active and ongoing, and further updates will be provided only through official channels, including in Parliament,” Schreiber said, in response to the interview.

The investigation into this matter is active and ongoing, and further updates will be provided only through official channels, including in Parliament. Don’t fall for social media untruths. Instead, support #TeamHomeAffairs in our quest to restore law and order by upholding the… https://t.co/zq03S36Qbq

— Leon Schreiber (@Leon_Schreib) August 16, 2024