By ODIGIE OKPATAKU

Anabela Rungo, the mother of Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, appeared in the Cape Town Magistrates Court on Wednesday, facing charges of identity theft and violation of the Immigration Act.

Rungo has been under strict house arrest since February, after she was arrested for remaining in the country despite her ID being revoked in September last year. The case was postponed last week due to the appointment of a new prosecutor and Rungo securing a new lawyer to represent her.

Rungo, a Mozambican national, is accused of fraudulently obtaining South African citizenship by stealing another woman’s identity, a claim that has sparked legal battles and public debate.

Rungo’s return to court today follows a brief delay last week when the state appointed a new prosecutor to oversee the case. At the same time, Rungo replaced her previous legal counsel with a new lawyer, prompting the postponement to allow both sides to prepare. Today’s appearance will focus on the identity theft charges, with Rungo’s team seeking to ease the strict bail conditions set earlier this year.

The Cape Town Magistrates Court previously granted Rungo R10,000 bail after her arrest in February 2025, despite opposition from the state, which argued she posed a flight risk. Her bail includes house arrest, a condition her lawyers are now challenging, claiming it is too restrictive.

The outcome of this request, alongside the ongoing fraud case, will be a key focus of today’s proceedings. The Department of Home Affairs alleges that she stole a South African woman’s identity to secure citizenship, including a passport and ID, through fraudulent means.