March and March Supporters Gather Outside Court as Chidimma Adetshina Awaits Deportation Ruling

• Supporters of the March and March movement gathered outside Cape Town Regional Court on Wednesday, 19 August, singing and chanting
• Chidimma Adetshina was arrested earlier this year in Summer Greens alongside her minor son over alleged invalid immigration status
• The Cape Town Regional Court was set to decide whether Adetshina should be detained while Home Affairs finalises deportation proceedings

CAPE TOWN - Crowds of March and March movement supporters descended on the Cape Town Regional Court on Wednesday, 19 August, as a key legal hearing involving former Miss South Africa finalist Chidimma Adetshina got under way.

The group gathered outside, singing and chanting, demanding that Adetshina leave the country. Their message was simple: she does not belong in South Africa.

The atmosphere outside the court was charged as proceedings inside focused on a single question — should Adetshina be detained while the Department of Home Affairs moves forward with deportation?

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Adetshina's arrest and immigration status

Adetshina was arrested earlier this year at her home in Summer Greens, Cape Town. Her minor son was with her at the time of the arrest. Home Affairs officials stated that system checks confirmed she does not hold lawful residential status in South Africa, and that both she and her son had been living in the country without valid immigration documents.

After her first court appearance, she was released on warning and required to remain at a fixed address while the case continued. Home Affairs subsequently approached the court seeking authorisation to detain her until deportation proceedings could be completed.

View video of the protesters here:

From pageant controversy to courtroom

The immigration matter is tied to a controversy that began in 2024, when Adetshina entered the Miss South Africa competition. Questions about her nationality led to her withdrawal from the pageant before its conclusion. Following an investigation into how her South African identity documents were obtained, authorities cancelled them. Her mother was also previously arrested in connection with related immigration and identity document allegations.

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After stepping away from the Miss South Africa stage, Adetshina represented Nigeria at the Miss Universe competition, where she finished as the first runner-up.

Jacinta Zuma questions how Chidimma re-entered SA

Briefly News also reported that March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma publicly questioned how Chidimma Adetshina managed to re-enter South Africa after the Department of Home Affairs reportedly banned her from the country. In a post shared on X on 28 July 2026, Ngobese directed her frustration at the Department of Home Affairs over the former Miss SA finalist and Miss Universe Nigeria winner’s presence in the country.

Source: Briefly News