KEY POINTS
- Anabela Rungo, mother of former Miss SA contestant Chidimma Adetshina, was granted R10,000 bail amid charges of violating the Immigration Act, including allegations of identity fraud.
- Magistrate Sadiqah Guendouz criticized the State for presenting a “half-baked” case and drew parallels between current immigration enforcement practices and apartheid-era “dompas” laws.
- The case, which has been postponed to May 8, has sparked public debate over immigration policies and the influence of social media on legal proceedings.
Anabela Rungo, the mother of former Miss South Africa participant Chidimma Adetshina, was granted R10,000 bail by the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
Rungo, who has been classified as a prohibited person in South Africa due to her lack of official documentation, faces seven charges of contravention of the Immigration Act.
The case has drawn significant public attention, particularly after Adetshina’s withdrawal from the Miss SA competition last year amid the controversy.
Magistrate Sadiqah Guendouz imposed strict bail conditions, including house arrest, limiting Rungo’s movements to court appearances, consultations with her lawyer, and visits to the Department of Home Affairs if necessary.
IOL reports that she is barred from applying for any documents or visiting embassies, either personally or through a representative. The case has been postponed to May 8 for further investigation.
“The court does not want to keep anybody in custody unnecessarily,” Guendouz stated, emphasizing the constitutional right to freedom. She also criticized the State for presenting a “half-baked” case and failing to prepare their heads of argument on time, calling it “blatantly embarrassing.”
The magistrate further highlighted the broader implications of the case, drawing parallels to apartheid-era “dompas” laws, where individuals were frequently stopped and asked to produce identification. “This is reminiscent of the dompas laws,” she remarked.
Rungo faces seven charges
The charges against Rungo stem from allegations that she remained in South Africa unlawfully after being declared a prohibited person. She is accused of possessing an identity certificate belonging to another individual and submitting a fraudulent application to the Department of Home Affairs under the name Sara Moyo.
The State has yet to produce Rungo’s South African passport as evidence, which remains a key piece of the investigation.
The case has been further complicated by its widespread coverage on social media, which Guendouz acknowledged had influenced public perception. Last year, Adetshina’s participation in Miss SA was overshadowed by the controversy, leading to her withdrawal from the competition.
A video of Adetshina dining at a Cape Town restaurant reignited public scrutiny, with many questioning how she re-entered the country after her South African ID was revoked.
“What has become blatantly embarrassing to the State is that they are playing for time. Everybody has discussed this matter before Rungo was arrested,”
Guendouz said during the proceedings. She also noted that Rungo’s arrest on February 15 was “coincidental,” as she was not actively being sought at the time.
