Former Miss SA contestant and Miss Universe Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina's mother ARRESTED in Cape Town for FRAUD

Cape Town – Anabela Rungo, the mother of Chidimma Adetshina, the Nigerian-South African beauty queen who made waves as Miss Universe Nigeria and a former Miss South Africa contestant, has been apprehended by South African authorities over allegations of fraudulently obtaining a South African identity document.

The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that Rungo, a Mozambican national, was detained at a property in Cape Town on Saturday morning in a joint operation by Home Affairs investigators and the South African Police Service (SAPS), according to reports from the Sunday World.

Department spokesperson Siya Qoza stated that Rungo had been declared persona non grata in September 2024 after officials uncovered 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 said.

The investigation into Rungo's status was triggered by the controversy surrounding her daughter's participation in the Miss South Africa beauty pageant earlier this year. Adetshina, despite her South African upbringing, was later found to be ineligible to compete in the pageant due to citizenship issues.

At the time of her arrest, Rungo was reportedly with Adetshina's minor child, prompting the authorities to engage the Department of Social Development and SAPS Child Protection Services to ensure the child's welfare. The department's concern is also towards the underage child’s safety.

“Home Affairs is further liaising with the Department of Social Development and SAPS Child Protection Unit as it relates to protecting the interests of the underage child. The department will provide further updates at opportune moments,” said Qoza.

Qoza accused Rungo of deliberately defying the country's immigration laws, despite being declared undesirable. "In an apparent act of brazen disregard for the legal consequences of her conduct, it appears that Ms Rungo has defied her 'undesirable' status through her Mozambican passport. Investigations are ongoing into further potential misrepresentation and fraudulent conduct," he stated.

The department deployed significant resources, including archival research, visits to hospitals, and site visits, to verify information leading up to the arrest.

"After being processed by Home Affairs over her apparent illegal continued residence in South Africa, Ms Rungo will be handed over to the SAPS as she is also the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation," the statement said.

Qoza confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.

Adetshina, who has Nigerian heritage, withdrew from the Miss SA pageant and later contested in Miss Universe Nigeria, where she emerged as the winner. She went on to finish as first runner-up at the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico last November, marking Nigeria's highest placement in the competition's history.

The unfolding drama has cast a shadow over Adetshina's achievements and raised questions about the integrity of South Africa's immigration system. While Rungo faces potential deportation and criminal charges, the focus remains on ensuring the well-being of Adetshina's child and uncovering the full extent of the alleged fraudulent activities.

Despite the potential guilt of Chidimma's mother, the beauty queen could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother, as she was an infant at the time of the activities in 2001.

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