Miss South Africa contestant withdraws after mother is accused of identity theft

Chidimma Adetshina said she had been born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and South African mother. Photograph: Miss South Africa Organisation

A South African beauty pageant contestant has withdrawn from the competition after the government accused her mother of fraud and identity theft, following questions over the contestant’s citizenship.

Chidimma Adetshina, 23, said she had made the “difficult decision” to protect herself and her family before the Miss South Africa final on Saturday, and a day after the home affairs ministry said her mother may have stolen a South African woman’s identity.