The Nigerian husband of a South African deputy mayor has been arrested after police discovered nearly 30 suspected undocumented migrants at a guesthouse linked to him.
The arrest of the businessman, who is married to Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Executive Mayor Lulama Titi-Odili, was confirmed by Free State Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae following a joint raid by police and immigration officials in Bloemfontein.
The operation comes amid a nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration across South Africa, fuelled by rising public pressure and recent protests in major cities.
Authorities said between 28 and 29 foreign nationals—believed to be from Ethiopia and Nigeria—had been concealed inside the property for about a week.
“It’s a guesthouse where we had about 28 to 29 people that were arrested because they were hiding in this place,” Premier Letsoha-Mathae told reporters, adding that food was being delivered to the occupants to keep them from leaving the premises.
Document investigation opened
The investigation has widened after officers at the scene recovered a Nigerian passport, a South African identity document, and the death certificate of a South African woman from the suspect.
Officials are now probing how the documents were obtained and whether identity fraud or immigration offences have been committed.
The Premier stated that while the deputy mayor’s husband remains in custody, investigators are working to determine if the individuals had lawfully booked the accommodation or were being deliberately harboured.
Neither Deputy Mayor Titi-Odili nor her office has commented on the arrest, and formal charges have not yet been announced by the police.
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