BLOEMFONTEIN – The husband of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality’s (MMM) deputy executive mayor, and owner of the Triple D guesthouse, has been granted bail with strict conditions in the criminal case involving undocumented immigrants. Mojalefa Senokoatsane, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of South Africa for the Free State, confirmed that the court attached conditions upon granting Lyndon Adentuji Odili (56) bail of R10 000.
“He was ordered to surrender his passport immediately and not leave the jurisdiction of the court without informing the authorities,” Senokoatsane said.
In addition to reporting to the investigating officer, Odili was ordered to again appear in court on 31 July. Odili is the husband of the current MMM deputy executive mayor, Lulama Titi-Odili, who is also the ANC regional deputy secretary in Mangaung.
In a statement, the Free State police confirmed the Nigerian-born accused appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on 1 July – a day after his arrest together with 18 undocumented immigrants. Sgt Mahlomola Kareli, spokesperson for the provincial police, said Odili had been arrested for contravention of the Immigration Act and that the case was postponed to 31 July for further investigation. “He faces 18 counts of harbouring, aiding, abetting, assisting, enabling, or helping illegal foreigners in contravention of the Immigration Act,” said Kareli.
He said Odili’s arrest during an operation followed a tip-off regarding several individuals spotted at a guesthouse along Raymond Mhlaba Street in Bloemfontein.
“The information suggested that the individuals were allegedly being hidden at the premises in reaction to the multidisciplinary operation targeting anti-foreigner sentiments during a planned national shutdown on 30 June. Police conducted a thorough search of the premises, finding 18 undocumented foreign nationals without the necessary legal authorisation to reside in South Africa,” said Kareli. He said separate dockets had also been opened against the 18 individuals for contravention of the Immigration Act, and illegal entry and stay within the country.
