In collaboration with the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (the Hawks), the Department of Home Affairs has intensified its investigation into a suspected case of identity fraud involving former Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Adetshina, with the authorities announcing that Adetshina’s identity document would be revoked as a result of the ongoing probe.
During a parliamentary session on Tuesday, Home Affairs disclosed that it had identified three officials involved in the registration of Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina’s birth in 2001, one of whom has since passed away.
Investigators suspect that Adetshina’s mother may have unlawfully assumed the identity of a Tshwane woman born in 1982, leading to severe legal and personal complications.
This woman, like Adetshina, also gave birth in 2001, only to discover that her identity number had been linked to Adetshina’s birth.
Home Affairs revealed that the Tshwane woman, whose identity was allegedly stolen, first applied for her ID document in Pretoria in 1995 only to return three months later to collect her ID and be told that it had already been issued to someone in Johannesburg.
While the investigation is still ongoing, Home Affairs issued a Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA) letter to Adetshina’s mother two weeks ago, marking a critical stage in the case.
The department is currently awaiting a response from Adetshina’s mother, which will be crucial in determining the final decision regarding the validity of Adetshina’s ID.
Advocate Constance Moitse, head of Home Affairs’ counter-corruption unit, addressed Parliament, emphasizing the broader implications of this case on identity theft.
“This situation highlights the urgent need for the department’s digitization efforts, which aim to eliminate opportunities for fraudulent interference,” Moitse said.
She also stressed the importance of caution when implementing court orders on blocked IDs to prevent further instances of identity theft.
The involvement of the Hawks in the investigation underscores the seriousness of the matter.
“We are committed to uncovering the full extent of this alleged fraud and holding those responsible accountable,” Moitse added.
Home Affairs also reported that the Tshwane woman’s child faced significant difficulties due to the identity mix-up, which delayed the issuance of a new ID number and birth registration for months.
“We are determined to uncover the truth and ensure justice is served,” Moitse assured.
The department is currently seeking legal advice to evaluate the potential impact of the alleged fraud on Adetshina’s citizenship status.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber commented on the situation, stating, “If we fail to digitally transform Home Affairs, the costs to the people of South Africa will become unbearable and will continue to be felt for decades to come.”
Schreiber emphasized the dangers of identity theft, which have persisted due to gaps in the system that allow for human intervention.
“The indications of identity theft uncovered by our investigators in the Miss SA case date back 23 years. Once again, it is only possible for someone to steal an ID number or engage in fraudulent activities because the system has gaps that allow for human interference. Yet here we are, dealing with the ramifications of something that allegedly happened 23 years ago, while the same thing continues to happen every day through syndicates that treat our South African citizenship as something to be stolen, abused, and trampled upon,” Schreiber said.
“If we allow a situation where our successors in this committee sit here for another 23 years dealing with the same issues, we would have failed dismally,” he concluded.
