Dr Pashy during Miss South Africa Finale at SunBet Arena at Time Square on 13 August 2022 in Pretoria. Photo: Gallo Images/Oupa Bopape
Dr Mmereka Ntshani, popularly known as Dr Pashy, has threatened to sue Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi for alleged defamation.
This after the statements Motsoaledi made regarding Ntshani’s passports following the arrest of convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester and his girlfriend, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, in Tanzania last month.
At the time, Motsoaledi questioned why two of her passports were found in Magudumana’s possession.
He revealed that the first passport was issued by the Department of Home Affairs in 2012 and expired in last year.
WATCH: Motsoaledi questions why Dr Nandipha had Dr Pashy’s passports
According to the minister, Ntshani had applied for a new passport in 2019 stating in an affidavit deposed to the police that the first one had been stolen.
She then deposed another affidavit in March this year, saying she gave Magudumana and Bester – guised under the name of TK Nkwana – her current passport so they could assist her in applying for “working citizenship” in the United States (US).
Motsoaledi, however, denied the suggestion that Magudumana stole the identity of Ntshani.
“She never assumed that identity. She just carried the two passports and never used them. At no stage did she tell anyone she was Dr Ntshani,” the minisater said on 14 April.
Ntshani says she was of the view that the minister’s comments alluded to “false conclusions” she was involved in helping escape the country.
In a cease and desist letter written to Motsoaledi, she said the defamatory statements have had a negative effect on her occupation as an anaesthetist, and some of her colleagues were reluctant to work with her.
READ MORE: Thabo Bester: Dr Pashy denies receiving money from Dr Nandipha Magudumana
Ntshani has since threatened to take legal action against Motsoaledi should he not issue a formal withdrawal and a public apology by 5pm on 15 May.
She has written to Motsoaledi over what she says are defamatory statements regarding her passports when he held a media briefing following the arrest of Bester and Magudumana.
On 20 April, Ntshani opened a case of fraud against Bester and Magudumana at the Sandton police station.
The case was transferred to Sinoville police station for further investigation, according to the South African Police Service (Saps).
“This is for investigations of crimes committed against her of fraud, forgery, theft and uttering. This is a criminal complaint, it is all going for investigation,” Ntshani’s attorney Sentebale Makara told The Citizen.
Magudumana and five others are accused of helping Bester escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein on 3 May 2022 after faking his death in a staged jail cell fire.
Her bail application will be heard at the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on 16 May, same day as Bester and her father, Zolile Sekeleni, who is out on R10 000 bail.
The other accused in the case are Integritron Integrated Solutions employee Teboho Lipholo and G4S guards Senohe Matsoara, Motenyani Masukela, Tieho Makhotsa, and Natassja Jansen.
The five will also appear in court on Tuesday.
NOW READ: NPA boss Batohi urged to ‘remove all Free State prosecutors from Thabo Bester cases’
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