The 2024 Miss Universe Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina‘s mother, Anabela Rungo, has been arrested into custody by South African authorities.
According to local media, the South African Police Service and Home Affairs investigators worked together to make the arrest in Cape Town.
Rungo, a citizen of Mozambique, is charged with obtaining a South African identity document falsely.
After authorities discovered anomalies in her residency status, she was previously designated an undesirable person in September 2024.
Despite having her papers withdrawn, Rungo reportedly continued to live in South Africa.
Following a scandal regarding her daughter’s participation in the Miss South Africa competition, her legal status came under question.
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.
