Former Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, has revealed that her continuing legal battle against deportation from South Africa has left her exhausted and depressed.

Her reaction came after the Cape Town Regional Court reserved its ruling until August 19 on an application seeking her detention ahead of possible deportation.

Adetshina appeared before the court on Monday as lawyers representing South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs and her legal team presented their arguments.

Shortly after the hearing, the 25-year-old beauty queen shared a message on her Instagram Stories, where she vowed to continue fighting the case.

“Exhausted – Yes, Burnt out – Yes, Depressed – Yes, Will I give up, No! We no dey carry last see you next month,” she wrote.

The Department of Home Affairs wants the court to approve Adetshina’s detention while arrangements are made for her possible removal from South Africa.

Its lawyers told the court that she had no valid immigration documents allowing her to remain in the country.

The department also claimed that Adetshina had yet to surrender a South African passport in her possession, despite holding Nigerian citizenship.

It further alleged that she obtained Nigerian passports for herself and her child in Lagos before applying for a South African visa and returning to the country through Mozambique.

However, Adetshina’s lawyers rejected the department’s claims and opposed any attempt to detain her.

They maintained that she was born in South Africa and had limited ties to Nigeria.

Her legal team also argued that her public profile made her unlikely to abscond while the case remained before the courts.

According to the defence, Home Affairs did not conduct a fair investigation before invalidating her documents and declaring her a prohibited person.

The lawyers noted that a separate case challenging the decision over her citizenship was already before the Western Cape High Court.

They proposed that Adetshina should remain free and report to an immigration officer every two weeks until the legal process ends.

Presiding Magistrate Reema Khorana reportedly urged both sides to consider resolving the dispute outside court, but they failed to reach an agreement.

The case has also raised questions about the powers of magistrates in immigration matters.

A recent Western Cape High Court judgment held that magistrates could not issue warrants for immigration detention, as that responsibility belonged to immigration officers.

Adetshina was arrested in Cape Town in June after authorities accused her of living in South Africa without valid status.

She had earlier appeared before the same court and was released on a warning while Home Affairs continued its deportation process.

Her citizenship controversy first drew public attention during the 2024 Miss South Africa competition.

Questions about her nationality sparked strong public reactions and led her to withdraw from the pageant over concerns for her safety and that of her family.

The Silverbird Group later invited her to compete in Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, where she emerged winner.

She represented Nigeria at the Miss Universe competition and finished as first runner-up, the country’s best result in the pageant’s history.

Adetshina was born in Soweto to a Nigerian father of Igbo descent and a mother of Mozambican origin.

Last week, she filed an affidavit explaining the steps she had taken to regularise her immigration status.

The Cape Town Regional Court is expected to deliver its ruling on August 19.