The South African authorities have arrested Anabela Rungo, the mother of Chidimma Adetshina, Miss Universe Nigeria, for allegedly obtaining a South African identity document through fraudulent means.
Anabela Rungo, a Mozambican national, was arrested in Cape Town in a joint operation by the Home Affairs investigators and the South African Police Service.
Spokesperson of Department of Home Affairs, Siya Qoza explained that Anabela Rungo was declared persona non grata in September 2024, after officials discovered irregularities in her residency status.
According to Qoza; “Investigators from the department, assisted by SAPS, detained Anabela Rungo at a property in Cape Town. The Department withdrew Rungo’s South African documentation in September 2024 after finding that it had been fraudulently obtained, rendering her ineligible to continue residing in South Africa”.
Qoza also said that despite the discovery, Rungo continued to reside in South Africa, allegedly using her Mozambican passport to defy her “undesirable” status.
He further said; “It appears that Rungo has defied her ‘undesirable’ status through her Mozambican passport. Investigations are ongoing into further potential misrepresentation and fraudulent conduct.
“After being processed by Home Affairs over her illegal continued residence in South Africa, she will be handed over to SAPS, as she is also the subject of an ongoing Hawks investigation,” he stated.
The arrest is coming on the heels of Rungo’s daughter, Chidimma Adetshina, who was found ineligible to participate in the Miss South Africa beauty pageant due to her non-South African citizenship.
Adetshina later won the Miss Universe Nigeria title and finished as the first runner-up at the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico.
At the time of her arrest, Rungo was with Adetshina’s minor child, prompting authorities to engage social services to ensure the child’s welfare.
It was gathered that Anabela Rungo will face further action, including an ongoing investigation by the Hawks.
