South African authorities have arrested Anabela Rungo, the mother of Chidimma Adetshina, the 2024 Miss Universe Nigeria.
Local media report that the arrest took place in Cape Town during a joint operation by Home Affairs investigators and the South African Police Service.
Rungo, a Mozambican national, is being accused of fraudulently obtaining a South African identity document.
She had previously been declared an unwanted person in September 2024 after officials uncovered irregularities in her residency status.
Reports indicate that Rungo had been residing in South Africa despite having her documentation revoked.
Her legal status came under scrutiny after a controversy surrounding her daughter’s participation in the Miss South Africa pageant.
It was later revealed that Adetshina was ineligible to compete as she was not a South African citizen.
Authorities reportedly found Rungo at a private residence with Adetshina’s minor child, prompting intervention from the Department of Social Development and SAPS Child Protection Services to ensure the child’s well-being.
Officials suggest that Rungo may have attempted to circumvent immigration laws using her Mozambican passport.
Investigations are ongoing into potential further misrepresentation and fraudulent activities.
Following her processing by Home Affairs, it is expected that she will be transferred to law enforcement, as she is also under investigation by the Hawks, South Africa’s specialized crime unit.
Adetshina, who was born in Nigeria, withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition following revelations about her nationality.
She competed in Miss Universe Nigeria, where she won the title before finishing as the first runner-up at the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico last November.
