South African authorities have arrested Anabela Rungo, mother of Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, over allegations of fraudulently obtaining a South African identity document.
The Department of Home Affairs confirmed the arrest on Saturday, stating that Rungo, a Mozambican national, was apprehended in a joint operation by Home Affairs investigators and the South African Police Service at a hideout in Cape Town.
Department spokesperson Siya Qoza revealed that Rungo had been declared persona non grata in September 2024 after an investigation exposed irregularities in her residency status.
“Investigators from the Department, assisted by SAPS, detained Anabela Rungo at a property in Cape Town. The Department withdrew her South African documentation in September 2024 after finding that it had been fraudulently obtained, rendering her ineligible to reside in South Africa,” Qoza stated.
Rungo’s immigration status came under scrutiny following the controversy surrounding her daughter, Chidimma Adetshina’s participation in the Miss South Africa beauty pageant.
Authorities later confirmed that Adetshina was ineligible to contest as she was not a South African citizen. Following this revelation, she withdrew from the competition and later contested in Miss Universe Nigeria, emerging as the winner. She went on to finish first runner-up at the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico in November 2024.
At the time of her arrest, Rungo was reportedly with Adetshina’s minor child, prompting officials to involve South Africa’s Department of Social Development and SAPS Child Protection Services to ensure the child’s safety.
Qoza accused Rungo of deliberately defying South Africa’s immigration laws despite being previously barred from the country.
“It appears that Rungo has defied her ‘undesirable’ status through her Mozambican passport. Investigations are ongoing into further potential misrepresentation and fraudulent conduct,” he said.
Following her processing by Home Affairs for illegally residing in South Africa, Rungo will be handed over to SAPS as she is also the subject of an ongoing Hawks investigation into related offenses.
