Home Affairs blocks ID of Chidimma Adetshina’s mother

by Zintle Mdaka

Miss Universe Nigeria runner-up Chidimma Adetshina’s mother, Anabela Rungo has been stripped of her identity documents following her arrest on charges related to defying the Immigration Act and Identification Act.

She has appeared for a bail application in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court following her arrest at the Milnerton Police Station, where the Immigration officer made a testimony that Anabela had failed to respond to correspondence in September 2024, where she was warned that her ID number was being withdrawn and offering her a chance to object the verdict.

The officer told the court that Anabela could not be traced, so letters confirming that her ID would be withdrawn were sent to her via WhatsApp.

TimesLive reported that defence attorney Ben Mathewson presented an affidavit during the bail application saying it was in the interests of justice for his client to be released.

Anabela, it read, lived with her husband Michael and looked after Chidimma’s young son while her daughter travelled. It said her grandson was not doing well while she was in custody.

The court heard Anabela required medication for health issues and feared she would collapse in the unsanitary conditions at Pollsmoor prison.

Prior, Home Affairs investigated and found that Anabela, who is a Mozambican national, stole someone’s identity while she was applying for a South African ID in 1995, which she used to apply for Chidimma’s South African identity book.

Then, upon hearing that Anabela still resides in South Africa despite her South African documents confiscated last year over alleged identity fraud, they issued a statement saying: “In an apparent act of brazen disregard for the legal consequences of her conduct, it appears that Anabela has defied her ‘undesirable’ status through her Mozambican passport. Investigations are ongoing into further potential misrepresentation and fraudulent conduct,” Home Affairs spokesperson Siya Qoza said.

Anabela’s case has been postponed to the 26th of February, while she remains in custody.

Also see: Chidimma Adetshina’s mother arrested in Cape Town