Mangaung Deputy Mayor’s Husband Granted R10 000 Bail in Alleged Harbouring of Undocumented Immigrants Case
The 56-year-old foreign national and guesthouse owner, Lyndon Adentuji Odili, appeared before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court in the Free State after being arrested for allegedly contravening the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act 13 of 2002).
Odili was granted R10,000 bail, and the matter was postponed to 31 July 2026 for further investigation.
His arrest followed a tip-off received by law enforcement authorities from a member of the public on Tuesday, 30 June 2026.
According to police, SAPS members conducting an operation received information that several undocumented foreign nationals were staying at a guesthouse on Raymond Mhlaba Street in Bloemfontein.
The information suggested that the individuals were allegedly being concealed at the premises during a multidisciplinary law enforcement operation linked to the anti-illegal immigration protests and planned national shutdown on the same day.
Upon arriving at the guesthouse, police conducted a search of the premises and allegedly found 18 undocumented foreign nationals who were unable to provide legal documentation authorising them to reside in South Africa.
The owner of the guesthouse, Odili, was summoned to the scene and subsequently arrested following consultations with law enforcement officials.
He faces 18 counts of allegedly harbouring, aiding, abetting, assisting, enabling, or helping illegal foreigners in contravention of the Immigration Act.
Separate cases have also been opened against the 18 undocumented foreign nationals for alleged violations of the Immigration Act, including illegal entry into and unlawful stay in the Republic of South Africa.
The case has drawn public attention as Odili is reported to be the husband of Mangaung Deputy Executive Mayor Lulama Titi Odili.
Police investigations are continuing.
