Julius OkorieIt is not yet uhuru for Anabela Rungo, the mother of Miss Universe 1st runners up, Chidimma Adetshina, as she has reportedly been arrested by South African authorities for alleged false identity.
This is coming barely four months after her daughter, Chidimma Adetshina, emerged not only Miss Universe Nigeria, but also 1st Runners up of Miss Universe held in Mexico November 17, 2024.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAnabela Rungo is accused of fraudulently acquiring South African identity document.
According to local news platform, Sunday World, the Department of Home Affairs confirmed that Rungo, a Mozambican national, was picked up in Cape Town on Saturday in a joint operation by Home Affairs investigators and the South African Police Service.
Department spokesperson, Siya Qoza, was quoted as saying that Rungo had been declared persona non grata in September 2024 after officials uncovered 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.
Rungo’s status came under scrutiny following the controversy surrounding her daughter’s participation in the Miss South Africa beauty pageant.
It was later revealed that Adetshina was ineligible to contest as she was not a South African citizen.
At the time of her arrest, Rungo was reportedly with Adetshina’s minor child, prompting the authorities to engage the Department of Social Development and SAPS Child Protection Services to ensure the child’s welfare.
Qoza accused Rungo of deliberately defying the country’s immigration laws despite being declared undesirable.
“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.
Recall that the scandal almost stopped Adetshina from contesting the Miss universe Pageant but her entrance into Miss Universe Nigeria paved the way for her to ultimately achieve her dream.
READ ALSO:Miss Universe World Runners up Chidimma Hits South Africa For New Year Celebration
Adetshina emerged the first runner-up, making her the first Nigerian to finish that high in the 73-year-old Pageant. Denmark’s Victoria Kjaer Theilvig was crowned the winner at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City.
Adetshina who doubles as Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, revealed in the course of her message her plans to tour the world to empower the youths and women.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
