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The South African government had said that she had continued to reside in SA after her documentation was revoked in September last year over allegations of fraudulently obtaining her identity documents, warranting her arrest.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.
