The mother of controversial former Miss SA contestant Chidimma Adetshina could be facing criminal action for identity theft.

On Tuesday, Parliament’s Home Affairs committee has been informed the Hawks are now involved in the probe.

 

The person whose identity she allegedly stole has been traced and the Department of Home Affairs says the documentation backs up her citizenship.

However, no supporting documents can be traced for Adetshina’s mother.

The lid was blown on this case when Adetshina’s nationality was called into question during her participation as a pageant finalist last month.

The Home Affairs Department says it’s paid a house visit to the Mozambican-born mother of Adetshina – and has now issued her with a legal letter to explain her case or face having her identity registration cancelled.

The department’s anti-corruption head Constance Moitse says the probe is at an advanced stage.

“When we arrived at the last known address, they referred us to their lawyer, that we should speak to them through the lawyers, which is what’s currently happening.”

Home Affairs says the documents Adetshina’s mother used to register as a South African citizen – were those of another woman born in Pretoria in 1982.

This woman discovered her identity had been stolen when she applied for a national document in 1995 – and again in 2001 – when she gave birth and discovered Adetshina’s birth was registered under her identity number.

Home Affairs legal advisor Phelelani Khumalo says Adetshina’s own citizenship could now be in jeopardy as a result of her parents’ actions.

Adetshina’s father was born in Nigeria.

Said Khumalo: “When everything is cancelled does it render her stateless. Does she have for instance have Nigerian citizenship? Does she have Mozambican citizenship?”

Two officials in the department are under investigation, while a third has since passed on.