Questions have been raised about whether Dr Pashy was allegedly aware that her name was being used by Dr Nandipha, Thabo Bester's girlfriend. Photo: Supplied
Home Affairs Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, has conceded that two of Dr Mmereka Patience Martha Ntshani’s (Dr Pashy) passports was found in the possession of Dr Nandipha Magudumana, the girlfriend of convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester during her arrest.
According to a Tanzanian source, the travel documents were found in Dr Nandipha’s luggage when the couple was arrested approximately 10km from the Kenyan border.
“The one passport expired in 2022 and the other passport is expiring in 2029. Both were issued to Dr Pashy. They are authentic South African issued passports,” the source said.
Motsoaledi explained the existence of both passports, and how they allegedly ended up in Magudumana’s possession according to an affidavit by Dr Pashy.
He said Dr Pashy applied for a new passport in 2019, saying that the first had been stolen.
ALSO READ: Thabo Bester: Pic of one of two of Dr Pashy’s passports found in Dr Nandipha’s luggage
Dr Pashy then deposed another affidavit on 27 March 2023, saying she gave Magudumana and Bester, then using TK Nkwana, her current passport so they could assist her in applying for “working citizenship” in the US.
Motsoaledi questioned why Dr Pashy’s passports would be in Dr Nandipha’s possessions.
“The passport reported stolen is found in Tanzania on the person of Dr Nandipha (sic). The second passport which we issued because that first one was lost is also found with Dr Nandipha. I am not sure whether you see where I’m getting to.
“This affidavit which she obtained, on the 27th of March, saying ‘I gave my passport away’. In the affidavit she says I’m worried because I heard these people I gave this passport to have run away. I don’t know what they are going to use it for,” the Home Affairs Minister Motsoaledi said.
On Monday, The Dr Pashy Foundation denied the organisation had received any funding from Dr Nandipha.
The foundation also added that it is seeking legal advice following reports that her identity was stolen by Dr Nandipha.
“We have learnt, with great concern of the potential stolen identity of our founder, Dr Ntshani by Dr Nandipha Magudumana,” the foundation said.
Questions have been raised about the relationship between Magudumana and Dr Pashy, an anaesthetist based in Pretoria.
The name that Dr Nandipha was travelling under when she was arrested was Martha Patience Mmerika Ntshani, that of Dr Pashy.
According to a highly-placed source, it was also revealed that Bester was found with documents that identified him as Tommy William Kelly, an American citizen.
Bester had at least 19 fictitious names that he was travelling under when he was arrested.
Bester and Magudumana arrived back in South Africa on Thursday.
The plane carrying the pair from Arusha in Tanzania to South Africa landed at the Lanseria International Airport, in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The Citizen sent a list of questions to Dr Pashy regarding the relationship between her and Dr Nandipha and whether she was aware of the couple’s activities.
Dr Pashy told The Citizen that she has been advised not to talk to the media.
“Hi Faizel Patel thank you for your text but on the advice of my attorney I will not be discussing this matter with the media at this stage,” she said.
ALSO READ: Thabo Bester: ‘Dr Nandipha said she was being held against her will’
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