Lyndon Adentuji Odili, 56, a Nigerian national and husband of deputy mayor and finance MMC Lulama Titi-Odili was arrested on 30 June after police allegedly discovered about 28 suspected undocumented foreign nationals at Triple D Guesthouse, a property he allegedly owns in Bloemfontein. His arrest coincided with nationwide anti-illegal immigration marches organised by March and March.

Odili faces 18 counts of harbouring, aiding, abetting, assisting or enabling undocumented foreign nationals to remain in South Africa in contravention of immigration laws. He appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court last Thursday (2/9), where he was granted R10,000 bail. The matter has been postponed to 31 July.

Addressing the media on Thursday at the Bram Fischer Building, mayor Gregory Nthatisi rejected suggestions that the deputy mayor had been implicated in any wrongdoing, stressing the legal process should be allowed to unfold.

“I want to dismiss the notion that either politicians or officials are involved in some issues of foreigners. Let me say the foreign programme and processes are that of the home affairs, they are not done at the level of municipality.

“On the news it says the husband of the deputy mayor’s guesthouse not the deputy mayor’s guesthouse. The guest house of the husband of the deputy mayor was found to have had people (of whom) some of them did not have legal documents.”

Nthatisi said Titi-Odili should not be held responsible for allegations against her husband. The controversy has nevertheless placed the ANC-led municipality under pressure, particularly after Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae visited the guesthouse following reports that people were allegedly being hidden on the premises.

Letsoha-Mathae described the allegations as especially concerning because the owner of the guesthouse is married to a senior public representative. However, she cautioned against premature conclusions, saying investigators still needed to establish whether the occupants had legally booked accommodation or were deliberately being concealed.

The case has also reportedly stirred unease within ANC structures in the province. Some party insiders reportedly questioned how Odili secured bail despite allegations that undocumented foreign nationals were intentionally hidden at the property.

One ANC source further alleged that Titi-Odili had been shielded by officials, pointing to what they described as the party's silence on the arrest.

Nthatisi said senior municipal office-bearers are required to declare their business interests and relinquish active involvement in private enterprises upon assuming office.

“Senior officials appointed by municipality are made to abandon and declare their businesses,” he said, adding “there is no guesthouse on the declaration of Titi-Odili. “If you come to my declaration, you won’t find land of Botshabelo that I’m always accused of from time to time.

“When you go to any politician that is here you will find that they have declared what they are doing and they have abandoned what they could be doing, I’ve abandoned my businesses to serve the people of this metro.”

City manager Sello More also defended the municipality, urging the public to allow the judicial process to run its course. No municipal official had been involved in assisting undocumented foreign nationals, he said. The administration would respect the outcome of the criminal proceedings.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi sm

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