In a stunning development, South African authorities have arrested Anabela Rungo, the mother of Chidimma Adetshina, the reigning Miss Universe Nigeria, on charges of identity fraud.
Rungo, a Mozambican national, was detained in Cape Town following a coordinated operation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Home Affairs.
Rungo stands accused of fraudulently obtaining a South African identity document, an act that led authorities to declare her an “undesirable person” in September 2024 after discovering discrepancies in her residency status.
Despite this designation, Rungo remained in South Africa, evading earlier attempts to address her irregular immigration status.
The investigation into Rungo’s activities gained further attention after her daughter’s controversial involvement in the Miss South Africa beauty pageant. Chidimma Adetshina, who had initially participated, was disqualified after it was revealed she did not possess South African citizenship.
This revelation sparked heightened scrutiny over the family’s residency status.
During the operation, police discovered Rungo at a private residence, accompanied by Adetshina’s minor child.
The Department of Social Development and SAPS Child Protection Services were immediately alerted to ensure the child’s safety and well-being.
Authorities suspect that Rungo may have exploited her Mozambican passport to circumvent South African immigration laws.
Investigations are ongoing, with law enforcement now focusing on potential further fraudulent activities and misrepresentations.
Rungo is currently in police custody and is expected to be handed over to the Hawks, South Africa’s elite crime-fighting unit, which is also conducting an investigation into her case.
Chidimma Adetshina, born in Nigeria, withdrew from the Miss South Africa pageant following the nationality controversy.
She later went on to win the Miss Universe Nigeria title and earned the first runner-up position at the Miss Universe competition held in Mexico in November 2024.
