Thursday, May 15, 2025 - Anabela Rungo, the mother of Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, appeared in the Cape Town Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 14 May 2025, facing charges of identity theft and violation of the Immigration Act.
Rungo has been under strict house arrest since February,
after she was arrested for remaining in the country despite her ID being
revoked in September last year.
The case was postponed last week due to the appointment of a new prosecutor and Rungo securing a new lawyer to represent her.
Rungo, a Mozambican national, is accused of fraudulently
obtaining South African citizenship by stealing another woman’s identity, a
claim that has sparked legal battles and public debate.
Her legal team is also pushing to relax her bail conditions,
including house arrest, as the court proceedings continue.
Rungo’s return to court today follows a brief delay last week
when the state appointed a new prosecutor to oversee the case. At the same
time, Rungo replaced her previous legal counsel with a new lawyer, prompting
the postponement to allow both sides to prepare.
Today’s appearance will focus on the identity theft charges,
with Rungo’s team seeking to ease the strict bail conditions set earlier this
year.
The Cape Town Magistrates Court previously granted Rungo
R10,000 bail after her arrest in February 2025, despite opposition from the
state, which argued she posed a flight risk.
Her bail includes house arrest, a condition her lawyers are now challenging, claiming it is too restrictive. The outcome of this request, alongside the ongoing fraud case, will be a key focus of today’s proceedings.
The Department of Home Affairs alleges that she stole a South
African woman’s identity to secure citizenship, including a passport and ID,
through fraudulent means.
Independent immigration lawyer Stefanie De Saude Darbandi
explained the dual nature of the case: “The courts are dealing with her fraud
matter, while Home Affairs is responsible for addressing her immigration
status.”
De Saude Darbandi elaborated, “Home Affairs’ case against
Mrs. Rungo is that she stole someone’s identity and acquired her citizenship
status and citizen documents through fraudulent means.”
She noted that Home Affairs has labelled Rungo a “prohibited
person,” a legal status applied to individuals found with fraudulent documents.
However, De Saude Darbandi pointed out a
potential defence, stating, “She wasn’t found; she agreed to this
investigation,” suggesting Rungo’s cooperation could play a role in her legal
strategy.
If convicted, Rungo could face jail time
and deportation to Mozambique, as Home Affairs has already barred her from
seeking permanent residency in South Africa while the case is unresolved.
Rungo’s case has drawn attention partly
due to her daughter, Chidimma Adetshina, who gained fame as a Miss South Africa
finalist before winning Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 and Miss Universe Africa and
Oceania.
The high-profile connection has fueled
public interest, with opinions split on social media.
Some South Africans argue the justice
system has been too lenient, citing Rungo’s bail as evidence, while others call
for understanding given her family’s circumstances.
The charges stem from an investigation
that uncovered Rungo’s alleged use of a stolen identity, a crime Home Affairs
claims has affected the victim since 2001.
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