The Department of Home Affairs is poised to revoke the identities and travel documents of former Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Adetshina and her mother, Anabela Rungo, a Mozambican national.
Both are now facing potential fraud charges.
Briefing its portfolio committee in Parliament on Tuesday, the department revealed that its investigation has been completed and forwarded to the elite crime-fighting unit, Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).
This scrutiny intensified after questions arose regarding Adetshina’s heritage and nationality when she became a finalist in the Miss South Africa pageant.
Officials from the department conducted an inquiry at a residence registered in Adetshina’s name, seeking to locate her mother, who they believe is still in South Africa.
However, the department has been unable to clarify how Anabela Rungo managed to travel to Nigeria last month to support her daughter at the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, where Adetshina emerged victorious.
Photographic evidence shared on social media indicates that Rungo left South Africa during the ongoing investigation, yet there has been no commentary on Adetshina’s Nigerian-born father.
Albert Matsaung, the acting Deputy Director-General for Immigration, stated they could not find a trace of the passport she used while travelling to and from South Africa and Malawi. This also included her travelling to Nigeria.
Meanwhile, in a similar development, Adetshina is now flying from the United States to Mexico to compete in the Miss Universe contest, according to recent social media postings.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
IOL Politics