Cape Town – Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina, born in Soweto in 2001 to a Nigerian father and Mozambican-born South African mother, has confirmed she is back in Cape Town as legal proceedings surrounding her identity continue.
She revealed in a recent X update that she is back in South Africa. The model and mother-of-one shared a video of herself, accompanied by a Cape Town location tag emoji.
📍CPT pic.twitter.com/y0mGhpnV7C
— Chidimma Adetshina (@chichi_vanessaa) August 11, 2025
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has not publicly explained how she reentered the country, despite ongoing criminal investigations involving both her and her mother.
Adetshina rose to prominence after competing in Miss South Africa 2024, only to withdraw from the final round due to a backlash rooted in xenophobia and questions about her nationality.
South African Model, Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina’s entry video for Miss South Africa 2024.
She made it to the Top 14. pic.twitter.com/sV4qF4wOeq
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) July 16, 2024
The DHA subsequently revoked her South African identity documents, citing evidence that her mother, Anabela Rungo, may have obtained them fraudulently.
[LISTEN] The Department of Home Affairs responding to questions in Parliament (Home Affairs PC) on what is the current identity status of former #MissSA contestant, Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina.
Including a response about the alleged involvement of her father (not just her… pic.twitter.com/cgVbeGHIKM
— Athi Mtongana (@AthiMtongana) August 20, 2024
In September 2024, representing Nigeria, Adetshina was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 and later achieved first runner-up status at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant alongside continental titles as Miss Universe Africa and Oceania—marking the highest placement ever achieved by a Nigerian contestant.
Overcome with emotions, Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina, the newly crowned Miss Universe Nigeria, breaks down in tears as she reflects on her journey. From a contestant in the Miss South Africa pageant to her current reign as Miss Universe Nigeria
“it all started because of my… pic.twitter.com/tOmgezLic2
— News Live SA (@newslivesa) September 2, 2024
Her mother, Anabela Rungo, was arrested in Cape Town in February 2025 and initially placed under house arrest after being charged with Immigration Act and Identification Act violations—including alleged identity fraud.
BREAKING: Chidimma Adetshina’s mother (Anabela Rungo) has been arrested in Cape Town for defying her ban on entering South Africa!
Yet again, foreigners disrespect our immigration laws. We await the arrest of her daughter, who is also here illegally! pic.twitter.com/7BpZmmUjfy
— Matthew George (@MatJGeorge) February 15, 2025
According to TimeLIVE, Rungo’s bail conditions were later relaxed; the house arrest was lifted but replaced with a strict nightly curfew. Her case remains pending, with a court appearance scheduled for September 12, 2025.
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
