Nandipha Magudumana reveals her face in court for the first time since being extradited back to South Africa. Photo: Twitter: @AdvoBarryRoux
The family of Nandipha Magudumana, the girlfriend and accomplice of convicted killer and rapist, Thabo Bester have shared their support for the disgraced celebrity doctor.
Magudumana and three other suspects linked to Bester’s audacious prison break appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning.
One of the suspects is Magudumana’s father and a former G4S employee Zolile Sekeleni.
Sekeleni, together with another co-accused, also former G4S employee, Senohe Matsoara and camera installer, Teboho Lipholo appeared in court briefly on charges of assisting an inmate to escape from lawful custody, defeating the ends of justice, and fraud.
Magudumana’s father was granted bail of R10 000 and is back in court on 17 May, while Bester’s customary wife, Matsoara, and Lipholo will all remain behind bars.
Their bail applications will be heard on 3 and 4 May.
After court proceedings, Magudumana’s family shared words of encouragement with her.
“Be strong. We love you, neh, and we’ll see you on the 16th.”
ALSO READ: Thabo Bester: Nandipha and two co-accused remanded in custody
Earlier, the court asked Magudumana to reveal her face after the prosecutor said he wanted to make sure that she was really the infamous doctor.
Prosecutor Sello Matlhoko asked Magudumana to remove her mask so she could be correctly identified for court records.
“The court itself must be satisfied with the identity [of the accused]. We might find that’s not the person. But the court needs to be satisfied that it is indeed the person being charged,” said Matlhoko.
Magudumana also blew kisses to people believed to be her family, who were sitting in the public gallery.
Bester and Magudumana arrived back in South Africa on Thursday, after they were caught in Arusha, Tanzania, just 10km away from the Kenyan border, last Wednesday.
The Facebook rapist faked his own death with Magudumana’s help, to facilitate the prison escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC) in the Free State.
ALSO READ: Thabo Bester: ‘Dr Nandipha said she was being held against her will’
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.
