Anabela Rungo, the mother of Chidimma Adetshina, Miss Universe Nigeria, has been arrested.
South African authorities apprehended Rungo over allegation that she obtained a South African identity document by fraudulent means.
The arrest of the Mozambican national, was made in Cape Town in a joint operation by Home Affairs investigators and the South African Police Service.
The spokesperson of Department of Home Affairs, Siya Qoza, said Rungo had been 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 defy 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.
“After being processed by Home Affairs over her illegal continued residence in South Africa, she will be handed over to SAPS, as she is also the subject of an ongoing Hawks investigation,” he added.
The arrest came after Rungo’s daughter, Chidimma Adetshina, was found ineligible to participate in the Miss South Africa beauty pageant due to her non-South African citizenship.
Adetshina later won the Miss Universe Nigeria title and finished as the first runner-up at the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico.
At the time of her arrest, Rungo was with Adetshina’s minor child, prompting authorities to engage social services to ensure the child’s welfare.
Rungo will face further action, including an ongoing investigation by the Hawks.
