Miss Universe Nigeria, Miss Nigeria’s mother Anabela Rungo appeared in the Cape Town District Court on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, facing charges of identity theft and violation of the Immigration Act.
Since February, Rungo has been arrested for staying in the country, although her ID card was revoked last September.
The case was postponed due to the appointment of a new prosecutor and ensuring a new lawyer representing her.
The claim that Mozambique national Rungo has been accused of deceptively stealing another woman’s identity to fraudulently obtain South African citizenship has sparked legal struggles and public debate.
As court proceedings continue, her legal team also works to relax bail conditions, including House arrests.
London returned to court today after a brief delay in the week after the state appointed a new prosecutor to oversee the case. Meanwhile, Rungo replaced her former legal counsel with a new lawyer, prompting a delay in allowing both parties to prepare.
Today’s appearance will focus on identity theft crime, with Rune’s team trying to alleviate the strict bail conditions set earlier this year.
The Cape Town District Court had previously granted Rungo R10,000 bail after being arrested in February 2025, and despite the state’s objection, he believes she posed a flight risk.
Her bail includes House arrests, which her attorney is now challenging, claiming is too restrictive. Along with the ongoing fraud case, the result of this request will be the focus of today’s lawsuit.
The Ministry of Home Affairs claims she has stole the identity of a South African woman by fraud to secure citizenship, including her passport and ID card.
Independent immigration attorney Stefanie de Saude Darbandi explains the dual nature of the case: “The court is dealing with her fraud, while the Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for resolving her immigration status.”
De Saude Darbandi elaborated on: “The internal affairs case against Mrs Rune was when she stole someone’s identity and obtained her citizenship and citizenship documents by fraud.”
She noted that the Ministry of Home Affairs has labeled Rungo as a “banned person”, which is a legal status applicable to individuals with fraudulent documents.
However, De Saude Darbandi pointed to a potential defense, saying: “She didn’t find it; she agreed to the investigation,” suggesting that Rungo’s collaboration could play a role in her legal strategy.
However, De Saude Darbandi pointed to a potential defense
If convicted, Runes could face jail time and expelled from Mozambique because the Ministry of Home Affairs has banned her from seeking permanent residence in South Africa without the case being resolved.
The Rune’s case has attracted attention in part because her daughter Chidimma Adetshina became a Miss South Africa finalist before winning Miss Universe and Miss Universe and Miss Africa in 2024.
High-profile contacts sparked public interest and commented on social media.
Some South Africans believe that the justice system is too lenient to use rune bail as evidence, while others call for understanding her family’s situation.
The allegations stem from an investigation that found consistent with the so-called stolen identity of the rune, which the Crime-based business claims to have affected the victims since 2001.
