*Nigerian Husband Of South African Deputy Mayor Arrested For Allegeoly Harbouring Undocumehted Migrants
*Chidimma Adetshina Faces Deportation Battle Over Alleged Ilegal Residency
Protesters began gathering at Church Square in Pretoria on Monday morning ahead of a planned demonstration against illegal immigration.
This is even as A Nigerian national and husband of the Deputy Executive Mayor of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality in South Africa, has been arrested in Bloemfontein after police allegedly discovered about 28 undocumented foreign nationals at his guesthouse during a raid.
The suspect was identified as Phil Odili, who is married to Lulama Titi Odili.
The arrest was confirmed on Tuesday by MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae, a South African politician who currently serves as the Premier of the Free State. She said the operation had triggered an extensive police and immigration investigation into the circumstances surrounding the occupants of the property and documents allegedly found during the raid.
According to the premier, police found between 28 and 29 people inside the guesthouse, where they had allegedly been staying for about seven days without leaving the premises.
“It’s a guesthouse where we had about 28 to 29 people that were arrested because they were hiding in this place,” she said.
“When we enquire for how long have they been here, we’re told that it’s about seven days that they’ve been hiding in this place. They’re not going out. They’re not doing anything there. But there is someone who’s coming in bringing some foodstuffs for them.”
Letsoha-Mathae said the matter was particularly concerning because the guesthouse is owned by a senior politician in the Mangaung district.
She confirmed that Odili had been taken into custody but had not yet been formally charged.
“The husband is now… not yet being charged. He’ll be transported to the nearest police station. We’ll know later today what charges he’ll be facing,” she said.
Also, Chidimma Adetshina is facing deportation after authorities alleged that she had been living illegally in Cape Town.
The 25-year-old beauty queen, who made headlines after emerging as a finalist in the 2024 edition of Miss South Africa 2024 before withdrawing following controversy surrounding her citizenship, was arrested earlier this month in the Summer Greens area of Cape Town.
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Adetshina appeared before the Cape Town Regional Court on June 9 and was released on warning. She is expected to return to court next month as the Department of Home Affairs continues efforts to secure her deportation.
Court papers filed by immigration officer Adrian Jackson outlined the department’s case for detaining Adetshina for the purpose of deportation.
Jackson stated that Adetshina is “known to me through a previous investigation”.
According to the court documents, the Department of Home Affairs’ central law enforcement office traced Adetshina’s whereabouts and allegedly discovered that she and her minor son had been residing in South Africa without legal immigration status.
“In this affidavit, I shall now motivate reasons for deeming it to be in the interest of justice to detain this person for the purpose of deportation to the country of origin.”
The affidavit stated that officials verified Adetshina’s details through the department’s electronic systems and interviewed her to establish her immigration status.
“After the above ‘status determination’ interview and the DHA residency IT systems checks, it was confirmed that the applicant does not hold any lawful RSA residential status and is thus an illegal foreigner,” Jackson’s affidavit reads.
“It is my submission that the illegal foreigner wilfully and intentionally remained resident unlawfully in RSA in contravention of the Immigration Act 13 of 2022.”
Jackson further asked the court to “confirm the detention of the illegal foreigner for the purpose of deportation in order for the Department of Home Affairs to fulfil its mandate in facilitating the removal of illegal foreigners from the Republic of South Africa”.
The matter is expected to return before the court next month as deportation proceedings continue.
However, the protest, organised by civil group March began at 10am, with the city among several locations identified for demonstrations across South Africa.
In preparation for the June 30 deadline informally set by the group, authorities reportedly allocated R600 million towards security operations in collaboration with private security firms.
A multidisciplinary law enforcement contingent was deployed across the Pretoria central business district, with officers stationed around Church Square and other key locations ahead of the demonstrations.
As protesters arrived at the gathering point, some broke into songs and chants, declaring that they were fighting for their country and for the future of their children.
Demonstrators said they were demanding stricter enforcement of immigration laws and the removal of undocumented immigrants from the country.
One of the protesters, Tumisang Mabula, said the government must respond to their demands and enforce existing legislation.
“I’m here to join March and March because it is my moral obligation as a South African to come here and support fellow South Africans who are here to force the South African government to do its job. We are not xenophobic. We don’t hate Africans.”
Mabula added that the group would continue with its campaign until the government responds to its demands.
The authorities have warned organisers to ensure there is no violence but say they are prepared for any potential disruption.
Police say traditional weapons are not allowed. This could lead to tension between protesters and the police because many of the protesters are ethnic Zulus, and take their shields, whips and sticks when they go on marches.
However, police have so far allowed them to carry the weapons, seizing only a machete at a march in Durban.
Xenophobia has long been an issue in South Africa, and has sometimes led to violence.
According to the African Centre for Migration and Society’s (ACMS) xenophobic violence tracker Xenowatch, two people have been killed this year.
In 2008, more than 60 people died during a wave of rioting against non-South Africans.