Friday, February 28, 2025 - The South African government has set strict bail conditions for Anabela Rungo, mother of reigning Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, Chidimma Adetshina, while prohibiting her from applying for permanent residency in the country
As part of the conditions, the state granted her R10,000 bail and
ordered that she be placed on house arrest.
Rungo, a Mozambican national, was arrested the penultimate week on the
allegations of identity fraud and violation of SA’s immigration laws.
The South African government had said that she had continued to reside
in SA after her documentation was revoked in September last year over
allegations of fraudulently obtaining her identity documents, warranting her
arrest.
“The department withdrew Rungo’s South
African documentation in September 2024 after finding that it had been
fraudulently obtained, rendering her ineligible to continue residing in South
Africa.
“It appears that Rungo has defied her
‘undesirable’ status through her Mozambican passport,” Siya Qoza,
spokesperson for Home Affairs, said on her arrest.
The court had denied her bail on her first appearance last week, arguing
that her bail might undermine public peace.
However, at the resumed hearing yesterday, the court granted her bail in
the sum of R10,000 and placed her on house arrest instead.
She was also barred from leaving her house except for the purpose of
consultation with her lawyers.
Although the prosecutor argued that she posed a flight risk and opposed
her release, Magistrate Sadiqah Guendouz noted that Rungo’s immigration status
would remain the same whether she was detained or not.
Delivering the judgement, the magistrate said: “Rungo will be under house arrest and may only leave her home to
consult with her lawyers. She is forbidden from applying for residency permits
or having anyone do so on her behalf, and immigration officers may conduct
unannounced visits to verify compliance.”
In the meantime, Rungo has continued to maintain her innocence and
argued that her right to a fair hearing was being infringed on by the
authority.
Adetshina’s mother 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 due back in court on May 8.
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