Nigerian husband of South African Deputy Mayor arrested over alleged harbouring of undocumented migrants

A Nigerian national, Phil Odili, husband of the Deputy Executive Mayor of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, Lulama Titi Odili, has been arrested following the discovery of dozens of undocumented foreign nationals at his guesthouse in Bloemfontein.

The arrest was confirmed on Tuesday by the Premier of the Free State, MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae, who said the operation was carried out by law enforcement and immigration authorities as part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration.

According to the premier, police officers raided the guesthouse and found between 28 and 29 undocumented foreign nationals, believed to be Nigerians and Ethiopians. Authorities alleged that the occupants had been staying at the property for about seven days without leaving the premises.

Letsoha-Mathae said the raid has prompted a broader investigation into the circumstances surrounding the occupants of the guesthouse, as well as documents allegedly recovered during the operation.

She added that immigration officials and police are working to establish the identities and legal status of those found at the property, while also determining whether any immigration or other criminal offences were committed.

As of Tuesday, the South African Police Service had not announced formal charges against Odili. Investigations into the alleged harbouring of undocumented migrants and the documents recovered during the raid remain ongoing.

The incident comes amid heightened immigration enforcement in South Africa, where authorities have intensified operations targeting undocumented migrants and individuals suspected of facilitating illegal migration.