South African authorities have arrested Anabela Rungo, the mother of Chidimma Adetshina, the current Miss Universe Nigeria, in connection with alleged identity fraud.
The arrest occurred in Cape Town during a coordinated operation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Home Affairs. Rungo, a Mozambican citizen, stands accused of illegally acquiring a South African identity document.
Her immigration status had already been flagged by authorities in September 2024, when she was declared an “undesirable person” due to irregularities in her residency. Despite this, reports suggest she continued to reside in the country.
Rungo’s immigration status gained more attention following the controversy surrounding her daughter’s participation in the Miss South Africa pageant. Chidimma Adetshina was disqualified after it was revealed that she was not a South African citizen.
During the operation, law enforcement officials discovered Rungo at a private residence alongside Adetshina’s young child. This prompted the involvement of the Department of Social Development and SAPS Child Protection Services to ensure the child’s well-being.
Authorities suspect that Rungo may have attempted to bypass immigration laws using her Mozambican passport, with investigations continuing into potential further misrepresentation and fraudulent activity.
Rungo is set to face handover to law enforcement officials, as she is under investigation by the Hawks, South Africa’s elite crime-fighting unit.
Chidimma Adetshina, born in Nigeria, withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition following the nationality issue. She went on to claim the Miss Universe Nigeria title and finished as the first runner-up in the Miss Universe competition held in Mexico last November.
