South Africa bars Chidimma Adetshina’s mother from permanent residency over identity fraud

Cape Town court bars Chidimma Adetshina’s mother from permanent residency over identity fraud

|Published 5:35 PM ET, Thursday February 27, 2025|

Cape Town: Anabela Rungo, the mother of former Miss South Africa finalist Chidimma Adetshina, has been barred from applying for permanent residency in South Africa due to charges of identity fraud and violations of the Immigration Act. Rungo, a Mozambican national, was arrested earlier this month for allegedly using stolen identity documents to register herself as a South African citizen.

During her recent appearance at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court, Rungo was granted bail set at R10,000 under stringent conditions. She is required to remain under house arrest, permitted to leave only for legal consultations. Additionally, she is prohibited from applying for residency permits or having anyone do so on her behalf, and immigration officers may conduct unannounced visits to ensure compliance.

Rungo came under scrutiny following the controversy surrounding her daughter’s participation in the Miss South Africa beauty pageant last year.

Chidimma Adetshina was deemed ineligible to contest, as she was not a citizen of South Africa.

She later withdrew from South Africa as a contestant following the online bullying. Adetshina later contested and won the Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 after accepting an invitation from the Silverbird Group to participate in the contest.

She would go on to become the Miss Universe 2024 first runner-up and Miss Universe Africa and Oceania.

Rungo is scheduled to return to court on May 8, 2025, as the case continues to unfold.