BLOEMFONTEIN – The husband of the Mangaung Metro deputy mayor appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 1 July. He stands accused of contravening the Immigration Act.

Guesthouse owner Lyndon Adentuji Odili (56), the Nigerian husband to Lulama Titi Odili, was arrested following a raid on his Raymond Mhlaba Street establishment on 30 June. Here, 18 undocumented foreign nationals were found on the premises.

The raid was conducted by the police, which was led by Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae and Jabu Mbalula, MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport. This operation followed a tip-off from a member of the public.

According to the information received by law enforcement, the individuals were allegedly being hidden at the guesthouse in response to a multidisciplinary operation targeting undocumented foreigners during a planned national shutdown on the same day.

The 18 foreign nationals, who did not have legal authorisation to reside in South Africa, were taken into custody. Separate dockets have been opened against them for contraventions of the Immigration Act, illegal entry, and illegal stay within the Republic.

Odili faces 18 counts of harbouring, aiding, abetting, assisting, enabling or helping illegal foreigners in contravention of the Immigration Act.

He was granted R10 000 bail and his case has been postponed to Friday 31 July for further investigation.

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The Provincial Commissioner of the Free State, Lt Gen. Thabang Lesia, commended the police members for their swift response. He stated that business and property owners who deliberately bypass immigration laws to harbour undocumented individuals will face the full might of the law.