Anabela Rungo, the mother of Nigerian beauty queen Chidimma Adetshina, has been arrested in South Africa for alleged illegal residence.
According to local reports, the arrest occurred in Cape Town during a joint operation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Home Affairs. Rungo, a Mozambican national, is accused of fraudulently obtaining a South African identity document.
The Department of Home Affairs confirmed the arrest in a statement on Saturday, stating that the operation was conducted by Home Affairs investigators and SAPS. They confirmed that Rungo was arrested at a hideout in Cape Town.
Department spokesperson Siya Qoza stated that Rungo was declared persona non grata in September 2024 after officials discovered 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.
He added that despite this, Rungo continued to reside in South Africa, allegedly using her Mozambican passport to circumvent her “undesirable” status.
“It appears that Rungo has defied her ‘undesirable’ status through her Mozambican passport. Investigations are ongoing into further potential misrepresentation and fraudulent conduct,” he said.
“After being processed by Home Affairs for her illegal continued residence in South Africa, she will be handed over to SAPS, as she is also the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Hawks,” he added.
In September 2024, Rungo’s South African documents were revoked due to alleged identity fraud in obtaining citizenship, making her ineligible to reside in the country. Despite this, she reportedly continued to reside in Cape Town with Chidimma’s sibling, using her Mozambican passport.
Since competing in South African beauty pageants, Chidimma has faced questions about her identity, particularly because her name has Nigerian rather than South African roots.
This identity issue has fueled Chidimma’s drive. After an initial rejection in South Africa, she went on to win Miss Nigeria 2024. She later became Miss Universe 1st Runner-Up 2024 and Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, representing African women on the global stage.
