South African Government Arrests Mother of Miss Universe Nigeria Over Fraud Allegations

The South African Government has apprehended Anabela Rungo, the mother of Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidinma Adetshina, on charges of fraudulently acquiring a South African identity document. The arrest was announced in a statement by the Department of Home Affairs on Saturday.

Rungo, a Mozambican national, was detained at a hideout in Cape Town in a joint operation conducted by Home Affairs investigators and the South African Police Service (SAPS). Siya Qoza, the spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs, confirmed that Rungo had been declared persona non grata in September 2024 due to 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 stated.

This incident follows the withdrawal of Chidinma Adetshina from the Miss South Africa pageant after controversies arose regarding her nationality and allegations of identity theft involving her mother. The situation continues to unfold as investigations proceed.