South African police have arrested Anabela Rungo, the mother of Chidimma Adetshina, the reigning Miss Universe Nigeria, over allegations of identity fraud.
Rungo, a Mozambican national, was detained in Cape Town during a coordinated operation involving the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Home Affairs. She is accused of fraudulently acquiring a South African identity document and had previously been declared an “undesirable person” in September 2024 due to irregularities in her residency status. However, she reportedly remained in the country despite the ruling.
Her immigration status came under scrutiny following a controversy surrounding her daughter’s participation in the Miss South Africa beauty pageant, where Adetshina was disqualified after it was revealed that she did not hold South African citizenship.
During the arrest, authorities found Rungo at a private residence along with Adetshina’s minor child, prompting intervention from Child Protection Services and the Department of Social Development to ensure the child’s welfare.
South African authorities suspect Rungo of attempting to bypass immigration laws using her Mozambican passport and are investigating possible additional fraudulent activities. She is expected to be handed over to the Hawks, South Africa’s elite crime-fighting unit, for further investigation.
Meanwhile, Chidimma Adetshina, who was born in Nigeria, later went on to win the Miss Universe Nigeria title and finished as first runner-up at the Miss Universe competition held in Mexico last November.
