In a significant legal development, the South African Department of Home Affairs, supported by the South African Police Service (SAPS), detained Ms. Anabela Rungo, the mother of Miss South Africa 2024 contestant Chidimma Adetshina, on the morning of February 15, 2025. The detention occurred at a property in Cape Town following allegations of fraudulent citizenship documentation.
The Department of Home Affairs had previously withdrawn Ms. Rungo’s South African documentation in September 2024 after an investigation revealed that it had been unlawfully obtained. This action rendered her ineligible to reside in South Africa legally. Despite her “undesirable” status, Ms. Rungo allegedly continued to reside in the country using her Mozambican passport.
During the operation, authorities discovered that Rungo’s under-aged child was also living with her. The Department of Home Affairs is coordinating with the Department of Social Development and the SAPS Child Protection Unit to ensure the well-being of the minor.
Following her processing for illegal residency, Ms. Rungo will be handed over to the SAPS as she is currently the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation. The Home Affairs Department has indicated that further updates will be provided as the situation develops.
No interviews are being conducted at this time regarding the matter, as authorities focus on the ongoing investigations.
This incident highlights the complexities surrounding immigration and citizenship issues in South Africa, particularly as they intersect with individual cases involving public figures.
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