South African authorities have taken Anabela Rungo, the mother of Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, into custody over allegations of fraudulently acquiring a South African identity document.
The Department of Home Affairs confirmed Rungo’s arrest, stating that she was apprehended on Saturday in Cape Town during a joint operation involving Home Affairs investigators and the South African Police Service.
According to a report by Sunday World, Rungo, a Mozambican national, had previously been declared persona non grata in September 2024 after officials identified irregularities in her residency status.
Department spokesperson, Siya Qoza, explained the circumstances surrounding Rungo’s detention, stating, “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.”
Rungo’s immigration status came under scrutiny following controversy surrounding her daughter’s participation in the Miss South Africa beauty pageant.
It was later discovered that Adetshina did not meet the eligibility criteria due to her non-South African citizenship.
At the time of Rungo’s arrest, she was reportedly with Adetshina’s minor child.
Authorities have since involved the Department of Social Development and SAPS Child Protection Services to ensure the child’s well-being.
Qoza further accused Rungo of deliberately violating the country’s immigration laws despite her prior designation as “undesirable.”
“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 added.
Adetshina, originally of Nigerian descent, withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition after the controversy surrounding her citizenship.
She later competed in Miss Universe Nigeria, where she claimed the title.
In November 2024, she went on to represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico, securing the position of first runner-up.
