The Cape Town magistrate's court decided to let Anabela Rungo out on bail. She must stay at home except for court visits or legal meetings. Rungo paid R10,000 for her freedom. Her bail includes house arrest conditions and regular checks by immigration officers and police.
Rungo faces charges related to breaking Immigration and Identification laws in South Africa. An immigration officer told the court earlier that she ignored messages sent last September. These messages warned her about her ID number being taken away and gave her a chance to object.
Police arrested Rungo on February 15 in the Summer Greens area of Cape Town. She lived there despite having her ID canceled. Officials found she had used fake information to become a citizen. Rungo claims there was no arrest warrant and plans to defend herself as not guilty.
Magistrate Sadiqah Guendouz set the next court date for May 8 to allow more investigation time. Rungo stated she only has a Mozambican passport. She believes she should go free because she did nothing wrong. Her court papers said she had no past crimes, outstanding warrants, or pending requests.
Rungo denies knowing she was considered unwanted or banned from South Africa. She firmly believes she will be proven innocent and says her release poses no threat to public safety.
The case gained attention after her daughter Chidimma Adetshina, whose father comes from Nigeria, reached the Miss South Africa finals. People questioned whether her name sounded South African enough. Adetshina later withdrew from Miss South Africa and instead represented Nigeria in another pageant.
Rungo faces charges related to breaking Immigration and Identification laws in South Africa. An immigration officer told the court earlier that she ignored messages sent last September. These messages warned her about her ID number being taken away and gave her a chance to object.
Police arrested Rungo on February 15 in the Summer Greens area of Cape Town. She lived there despite having her ID canceled. Officials found she had used fake information to become a citizen. Rungo claims there was no arrest warrant and plans to defend herself as not guilty.
Magistrate Sadiqah Guendouz set the next court date for May 8 to allow more investigation time. Rungo stated she only has a Mozambican passport. She believes she should go free because she did nothing wrong. Her court papers said she had no past crimes, outstanding warrants, or pending requests.
Rungo denies knowing she was considered unwanted or banned from South Africa. She firmly believes she will be proven innocent and says her release poses no threat to public safety.
The case gained attention after her daughter Chidimma Adetshina, whose father comes from Nigeria, reached the Miss South Africa finals. People questioned whether her name sounded South African enough. Adetshina later withdrew from Miss South Africa and instead represented Nigeria in another pageant.
