Central SA
Thabo Bester's girlfriend Nandipha a no-show at court proceedings – VIDEOS─── LUCKY NKUYANE 14:14 Wed, 11 Oct 2023
The girlfriend of the murder and rape convict Thabo Bester was a no-show during court proceedings at the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Wednesday (11/10).
Nandipha Magudumana failed to make her appearance in court on Wednesday, alongside other co-accused charged with aiding and abetting Bester to escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022.
The National Prosecuting Authority's spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, said the prosecution team was informed that her failure to appear in court was due to ill health. Magudumana's defence lawyer Adv. Machini Motloung said he could not consult with his client. It's understood that she was kept in the holding cells at Park Road in Bloemfontein where she collapsed ahead of her court appearance. Motloung said he was told that he could only consult with his client through a window.
The 11 suspects, including Bester, appeared before the Acting Chief Magistrate Estelle de Lange today. They face varying charges including aiding, abetting, fraud, corruption, and violating a dead body. Suspects include former G4S security officials, Magudumana's father Zolile Sekeleni, and Magudumana's former gardener Zanda Moyo.
Six accused are out on R10,000 bail. Also, the charges against then-accused 7 Nastassja Jansen, accused 10 Thabang Mier, and accused 12 Moeketsi Ramolula were withdrawn today.
State prosecutor Amanda Bester told De Lange that the charges against the trio were withdrawn. She did not provide a reason. They were charged with aiding and abetting Bester to escape from lawful custody.
Meanwhile Thabo Bester today told De Lange he has now beefed up his defence team with three more lawyers. It includes the famous defence lawyer Zandile Mshololo in the murder case of former Bafana Bafana soccer star Senzo Meyiwa and adv Dali Mpofu (SC).
Bester and Magudumana were arrested in Tanzania. It's said that after Bester escaped from G4S, he had a lavish lifestyle in Johannesburg. But after being re-arrested in Tanzania, he and his girlfriend were brought back to South Africa.
Bester was sent to the Kgosi Mampuru Maximum Correctional Centre, while Magudumana was brought to Bloemfontein where she appeared in court on 13 April 2023. She remains in custody in Kroonstad. Her bail application was denied by De Lange on 11 September. She said Magudumana was a flight risk and she could orchestrate another Bester escape.
