The South African authorities have arrested Anabela Rungo, the mother of Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, over allegations of fraudulently obtaining a South African identity document.
The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that Rungo, a Mozambican national, was apprehended at a hideout in Cape Town on Saturday in a joint operation conducted by Home Affairs investigators and the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Department spokesperson Siya Qoza revealed that Rungo had been declared persona non grata in September 2024 after officials discovered irregularities in her residency status.
“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 stated.
Rungo’s immigration status came under scrutiny following the controversy surrounding her daughter’s participation in the Miss South Africa beauty pageant. It was later revealed that Adetshina was ineligible to contest as she was not a South African citizen.
At the time of her arrest, Rungo 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 safety.
Qoza accused Rungo of deliberately violating South Africa’s immigration laws despite her prior ban.
“It appears that Rungo has defied her ‘undesirable’ status through her Mozambican passport. Investigations are ongoing into further potential misrepresentation and fraudulent conduct,” Qoza said.
Following her processing by Home Affairs for illegally residing in the country, Rungo will be handed over to SAPS as she is also the subject of an ongoing Hawks investigation.
Adetshina, who is of Nigerian origin, withdrew from the Miss South Africa pageant after her citizenship status was questioned.
She later competed in Miss Universe Nigeria, winning the title and going on to finish as the first runner-up at the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico in November 2024.
