Anabela Rungo, the mother of Chidimma Adetshina, who recently achieved first runner-up at the 2024 Miss Universe Pageant and was crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, has been detained by South African authorities on allegations of fraudulent activities related to her residency status.
The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that Rungo was taken into custody in Cape Town on Saturday morning with the assistance of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
This action follows the Department’s decision in September 2024 to withdraw her South African documentation after discovering they were fraudulently obtained, rendering her ineligible to reside in the country.
“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,” stated a representative from the Department of Home Affairs.
“Investigations are ongoing into further potential misrepresentation and fraudulent conduct.”
The situation was further complicated as Adetshina’s young child was found living with Rungo at the property. Authorities are now coordinating with the Department of Social Development and the SAPS Child Protection Unit to ensure the child’s safety and well-being.
“The department is liaising with social development and the SAPS Child Protection Unit to safeguard the interests of the minor child,” said a spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs.
“Rungo will be handed over to the SAPS for further legal processing, and she remains the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Hawks.”
The controversy surrounding Adetshina’s citizenship surfaced last year during her participation in the Miss South Africa pageant, raising questions about her nationality due to her name and her mother’s background.
Adetshina, who is of Nigerian and Mozambican descent, clarified that she was born to a Nigerian father and a South African mother of Mozambican heritage.
However, the investigation by Home Affairs brought to light allegations of identity fraud committed by her mother, leading to further scrutiny.
Following these revelations, Adetshina withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition but later triumphed in Miss Universe Nigeria
