By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GettyImages.
The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that Miss Universe Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina’s mother Anabela Rungo has been detained in Cape Town.
Rungo was rendered ineligible to continue living in the country after she was found to have committed identity fraud to obtain citizenship.
Home Affairs spokesperson Siya Qoza said the department withdrew Rungo’s South African documentation in September last year.
Qoza said the department found that Rungo’s documents had been fraudulently obtained, rendering her ineligible to continue residing in South Africa.
“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. During the operation this morning, investigators from the Counter Corruption and Immigration Services branches of the department also found Adetshina’s under-aged child residing with Rungo,” Qoza said.
Qoza said she will be handed over to police.
“After being processed by Home Affairs over her apparent illegal continued residence in South Africa, Ms Rungo will be handed over to the Saps as she is also the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.”
“Home Affairs is further liaising with the Department of Social Development and Saps Child Protection Unit as it relates to protecting the interests of the under-age child. The Department will provide further updates at opportune moments, “Qoza said.
Chidimma’s citizenship came under the spotlight when she made it to the top ten of the Miss South Africa pageant, with many questioning her nationality due to her name.
She pulled out of the pageant but took up an offer to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria where she was crowned the winner, and was also crowned the first runner-up in the 2024 Miss Universe Pageant.