KEY POINTS
- Anabela Rungo, mother of beauty queen Chidimma Adetshina, was detained in Cape Town for allegedly obtaining South African citizenship fraudulently, leading to the revocation of her documentation.
- Authorities discovered Adetshina’s young child living with Rungo, prompting collaboration between Home Affairs, SAPS, and Social Development to ensure the child’s safety.
- The scandal has drawn attention to immigration fraud in South Africa, while Adetshina, who withdrew from Miss South Africa but won Miss Universe Nigeria, continues her advocacy work amid the controversy.
Law enforcement authorities in South Africa have detained Anabela Rungo, the mother of former Miss South Africa contestant and Miss Universe Nigeria winner Chidimma Adetshina, over allegations of fraudulent documentation.
The Department of Home Affairs, in a statement released on Saturday, confirmed that Rungo was apprehended in Cape Town with the assistance of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The department revealed that Rungo’s South African documentation had been revoked in September 2024 after it was discovered that her citizenship had been fraudulently obtained.
This rendered her ineligible to continue residing 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,” the Department of Home Affairs stated.
“Investigations are ongoing into further potential misrepresentation and fraudulent conduct.”
The case took a more serious turn when authorities discovered that Rungo was living with Adetshina’s young child at her Cape Town property.
This has prompted the Department of Home Affairs to collaborate with SAPS and the Department of Social Development 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 spokesperson Siya Qoza. “Rungo will be handed over to the SAPS for further legal processing, and she remains the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Hawks.”
Rungo’s Fraudulent Documentation
The controversy surrounding Rungo’s fraudulent documentation has cast a shadow over her daughter’s public image.
Chidimma Adetshina, a rising star in the pageant world, first came under scrutiny during her participation in the 2023 Miss South Africa competition.
Questions were raised about her nationality due to her Nigerian and Mozambican heritage. Adetshina clarified that she was born to a Nigerian father and a South African mother of Mozambican descent.
However, the investigation into her mother’s citizenship status revealed a web of alleged identity fraud, leading to further public and legal scrutiny.
In the wake of these revelations, Adetshina withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition but later competed in Miss Universe Nigeria, where she won the crown.
She went on to achieve international acclaim, securing the title of first runner-up in the 2024 Miss Universe Pageant and being crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania.
Despite her success, the ongoing legal troubles surrounding her mother continue to draw attention.
The case has sparked a broader debate about immigration fraud and the integrity of South Africa’s citizenship processes. Home Affairs Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi emphasized the government’s commitment to rooting out fraudulent activities.
