By Theophilus Oliver
South African authorities have detained Anabela Rungo, the mother of Chidimma Adetshina, the reigning Miss Universe Nigeria, on suspicion of identity fraud.
According to local sources, she was arrested in Cape Town during a joint operation conducted by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Home Affairs.
Rungo, a Mozambican national, has been charged with fraudulently obtaining a South African passport.
Authorities had previously declared her an “undesirable person” in September 2024 after uncovering irregularities in her residency status. Despite this, she reportedly remained in the country.
Her legal status came under heightened scrutiny following controversy surrounding her daughter’s participation in the Miss South Africa beauty pageant.
Adetshina was later disqualified from the competition after it was revealed that she did not hold South African citizenship or a valid passport.
During the operation, law enforcement officials found Rungo at her residence alongside Chidimma’s minor child. This led to intervention by the Department of Social Development and SAPS Child Protection Services to ensure the child’s welfare.
Authorities suspect that Rungo may have attempted to bypass immigration laws using her Mozambican passport. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether further fraudulent activities were involved.
Following her detention, Rungo is expected to be transferred to law enforcement agencies, with Hawks, South Africa’s elite crime-fighting unit, also launching an inquiry into the case.
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