A guesthouse owner accused of harbouring 18 undocumented foreign nationals at the property during the March and March-led protests appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court yesterday (July 1). 

Lyndon Adentuji Odili (56), a foreign national, was arrested on Tuesday (June 30) and charged with contravening the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act 13 of 2002). 

He was granted R10 000 bail and the case was postponed to July 31 for further investigation. 

Brigadier Thandi Mbambo, the spokesperson for the Free State police, said the arrest was made after a member of the public spotted several undocumented foreign nationals at the guesthouse in Raymond Mhlaba Street and tipped off police. 

According to Mbambo, the information suggested the individuals were allegedly being hidden at the premises amid a multidisciplinary operation prompted by anti-foreigner tensions ahead of the planned national shutdown.

She said when police arrived at the premises, they conducted a thorough search and found 18 foreign nationals inside the property without legal authorisation to remain in South Africa. 

Police called Odili to the scene, where he was subsequently arrested under Section 40(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act 51 of 1977). 

“He faces 18 counts of harbouring, aiding, abetting, assisting, enabling or helping illegal foreigners in contravention of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act 13 of 2002). Separate dockets have also been opened against the 18 individuals for contraventions of the Immigration Act, illegal entry and unlawful stay within the Republic of South Africa,” she explained. 

Provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Thabang Lesia commended officers for their swift response to the information, reiterating that action will be taken against business and property owners who deliberately flout the country’s immigration laws by harbouring undocumented foreign nationals. 

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