News24 article by Marvin Charles
Anabela Rungo, Miss Universe Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina’s mother, will remain in custody after being detained by the Department of Home Affairs over the weekend.
Rungo made a brief appearance in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday afternoon.
She faces two charges related to contravention of the Immigration Act and one charge for allegedly contravening the Identification Act, which sets out when and how South African identity documents are to be issued.
In a statement on Saturday, the department said Rungo was detained at a property in Cape Town, with the assistance of the police.
When the authorities arrived at the premises, investigators from the department’s counter corruption and immigration services branch found Adetshina’s minor child living with Rungo.
Adetshina’s South African ID was revoked in September.
Her participation in the Miss South Africa beauty pageant last year sparked controversy when her citizenship was questioned.
She withdrew from the pageant in August 2024 after the Department of Home Affairs announced that it had found prima facie evidence suggesting the person it had on record as her mother might have committed fraud and identity theft.
She subsequently participated in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant and won the title. She was also the first runner-up in the 2024 Miss Universe pageant.
Wearing a grey sweater and black trousers, Rungo appeared calm in the dock.
The State argued that Rungo had been in possession of three passports, which she used to travel to China and Mozambique. However, Rungo’s defence disputed this and told the court that she had handed over the passports to department officials.
According to the charge sheet, Rungo remained in South Africa after being declared a prohibited person.
The second charge relates to Rungo submitting an application to the department where she identifies herself as Sara Moyo.
The third charge relates to contravention of the Identification Act, “by coming into the possession of an identification certificate belonging to another persons as it is her own”.
Magistrate Sadiqah Guendouz lashed out at the State for bringing a “half-baked story” to the court.
Guendouz questioned the State on the lack of information that had been presented and why Rungo should remain in custody.
Rungo’s defence had requested that she be transferred to Milnerton police station, which the State objected to.
Guendouz said Rungo will remain in custody and postponed the matter until Tuesday for Rungo to consult with her lawyer. A bail application was tentatively set down for Thursday.
Western Cape MEC for Social Development Jaco Londt said they could not divulge any details about the matter for the safety and well-being of Adentshina’s child found with Rungo.