Chidimma Adetshina’s mother arrested in South Africa
Anabela Rungo, the mother of Miss Universe Africa and Oceania Chidimma Adetshina, was detained on Saturday, February 15, in Cape Town. Rungo’s South African documents were confiscated last year.
Rungo was rendered ineligible to continue living in the country in September last year after South African authorities said she allegedly committed identity fraud to obtain citizenship.
According to ENCA, a statement by the Department of Home Affairs reads, “In an apparent act of brazen disregard for the legal consequences of her conduct, it appears that Ms Rungo has defied her ‘undesirable’ status through her Mozambican passport.”
“Investigations are ongoing into further potential misrepresentation and fraudulent conduct.”
The department further states that Adetshina’s young child was discovered with her mother at the property in Cape Town.
“The department is liaising with social development and the SAPS Child Protection Unit to safeguard the interests of the minor child.
“Rungo will be handed over to the SAPS for further legal processing, and she remains the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Hawks.”
Since contesting in the South African beauty pageantry, Chidimma constantly faced the issue of identity, particularly because of her name, which does not have any root in South Africa but Nigeria.
Undeterred, this identity issue had pushed Chidimma towards her dream, when she became Miss Nigeria 2024, after an initial rejection in South Africa.
She went on to become Miss Universe 1st runner up 2024 and Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, representing all African women on the global stage.
