It never rains but pours for Dr Nandipha Magudumana as the High Court in Bloemfontein firmly dismissed her bail appeal application on Tuesday.
This legal setback comes after Magudumana’s legal team approached the Supreme Court of Appeal to challenge the initial ruling of the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court, which had denied her bail.
Dr Nandipha Magudumana’s bail appeal application dismissed (Image Credit: News24)Flight Risk Concerns
Back in September, during her initial bail application, the court had cited concerns that Magudumana was a flight risk, emphasizing that she possessed the “necessary means” and “know-how” to leave the country. Her arrest in Tanzania, in the company of her lover, the convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester, had further fueled these concerns.
Thabo Bester, infamously known for faking his death at the Mangaung Correctional Centre and escaping in May 2022, was at the centre of this high-profile case. The court contended that Magudumana played a pivotal role in Bester’s escape from the prison and, if released, she could potentially access the resources needed to engineer his escape once more, especially as he would be frequently transported to and from court from the prison.
According to the Groundup, the magistrate emphasized that, despite Magudumana’s claims of being taken across borders against her will by Bester, she demonstrated knowledge of evading detection. Together, they had managed to convince numerous individuals to aid them and navigate several border posts without being flagged.
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Dr Nandipha Magudumana Bail Appeal Dismissed
Acting High Court Judge Melissa Jordaan, during Tuesday’s proceedings, affirmed the validity of the original ruling and the reasoning behind it. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, effectively ensuring that Magudumana would remain in custody.
In her initial ruling, Judge De Lange had echoed the sentiment that Magudumana posed a substantial flight risk and displayed an ability to cross borders without the need for passports.