Nigerian husband of prominent politician, Lyndon Adentuji Odili, has been granted R10,000 bail after appearing in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on charges of allegedly harbouring undocumented foreign nationals at his guesthouse.
The 56-year-old appeared in court on Wednesday following his arrest for allegedly contravening the Immigration Act, 2002.
The case was postponed to July 31 to allow for further police investigations.
Odili faces 18 counts of allegedly harbouring, aiding, abetting, assisting or enabling undocumented foreign nationals to remain in the country in violation of the immigration laws.
His arrest followed a police operation launched after officers received a tip-off from a member of the public about suspected undocumented foreigners staying at a guesthouse on Raymond Mhlaba Street in Bloemfontein.
According to police, the information indicated that several undocumented individuals were allegedly being sheltered at the property amid a multidisciplinary law enforcement operation conducted during a planned national shutdown linked to anti-foreigner tensions.
Police searched the guesthouse and allegedly found 18 undocumented foreign nationals who were unable to produce legal documentation authorising them to live in South Africa.
Odili, identified as the owner of the guesthouse, was called to the scene and arrested after police consultations under Section 40(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977.
Separate criminal cases have also been opened against the 18 undocumented foreign nationals. They face charges relating to illegal entry into South Africa and unlawful residence under the Immigration Act.
Provincial Commissioner Lt-Gen. Thabang Lesia praised officers for acting swiftly on information supplied by the public, saying the arrest demonstrated the importance of community cooperation in fighting crime.
“We reiterate that business and property owners who deliberately bypass the country’s immigration laws to harbour undocumented individuals will face the full might of the law,” said Lesia.
Police said investigations are continuing as authorities work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged offences before the matter returns to court later this month.
