South African police arrested Anabela Rungo, mother of Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, Chidimma Adetshina, for alleged identity fraud. Rungo, a Mozambican national, was accused of illegally obtaining South African documents. Her arrest follows investigations into her daughter's ineligibility for Miss South Africa. Authorities are probing further fraudulent activities.
South African authorities have arrested Anabela Rungo, the mother of Chidimma Adetshina, Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, over allegations of identity fraud. The arrest took place in Cape Town during a coordinated operation involving Home Affairs investigators and the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Rungo, a Mozambican national, reportedly obtained a fraudulent South African identity document despite being declared an "unwanted person" in September 2024 due to irregularities in her residency status. Despite this, she continued residing in South Africa.
Her legal status became a subject of scrutiny after controversy arose regarding her daughter’s eligibility for the Miss South Africa pageant. Investigations revealed that Adetshina, originally from Nigeria, was ineligible due to her lack of South African citizenship.
Authorities apprehended Rungo at a private residence, where she was found with Adetshina’s minor child. The Department of Social Development and SAPS Child Protection Services intervened to ensure the child's welfare. Officials suspect Rungo may have used her Mozambican passport to bypass immigration laws.
Further investigations are ongoing, with authorities examining additional potential fraudulent activities. Rungo is expected to be transferred to law enforcement, as she is also under investigation by the Hawks, South Africa’s elite crime-fighting unit.
Chidimma Adetshina, who won Miss Universe Nigeria, later withdrew from Miss South Africa amid revelations about her nationality. She went on to compete in the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico, where she secured the first runner-up position.
