Online Reporter
Controversial South Africa-based beauty queen and model Chidimma Adetshina’s mother was granted bail by the Cape Town magistrate’s court on Wednesday on the condition she lives under house arrest.
Anabela Rungo stands accused of contravening the Immigration Act and Identification Act.
The court previously heard testimony by an immigration officer who said she had failed to respond to correspondence in September 2024, warning her that her ID number was being withdrawn and offering her an opportunity to object.
She was arrested on February 15 in Summer Greens, Cape Town, where she was living despite her ID being revoked. She was found to have committed identity fraud to obtain citizenship.
Rungo countered there was no warrant issued for her arrest and told the court she would plead not guilty.
Magistrate Sadiqah Guendouz ordered she be released on bail of R10 000 on condition she remains under house arrest and can only leave to attend court or consult a legal representative. She will also be visited by immigration officers and police.
The case was postponed to 8 May for further investigation. Rungo said she only had a Mozambican passport. “I should be released on bail as I am being charged with an offence for which I have not committed,” read the affidavit.
The court heard she had no previous convictions, outstanding warrants or pending applications. Rungo said there was no warrant issued for her arrest and she intended pleading not guilty as she had no knowledge of being an undesirable or prohibited person. “I believe I am innocent and will be acquitted.
My release would not undermine public peace.”She is being accused of stealing the identity of another woman and using the ID particulars as a South African national, while she was Mozambican. The case came to light after her daughter, whose father is Nigerian, qualified for the final of Miss South Africa, when people started questioning her name as “unSouth African”. Chidimma Adetshina then pulled out of the Miss South Africa content, and went on to represent Nigeria. —TimesLIVE
