Teary Zolile Sekeleni with his daughter Dr Nandipha in court [watch]

Zolile Cornelius Sekeleni, who is the father of Dr Nandipha Magudumana, failed to hold back his tears as he was joined by his daughter at the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Monday, 17 April, for their bail proceedings.

ALSO READ: Thabo Bester saga: Who is Dr Nandipha’s father Zolile Sekeleni?

Both Sekeleni and Magudumana were arrested over a week ago, in separate locations, for aiding and abetting the escape of Facebook rapist and murderer Thabo Bester. The notorious criminal escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Centre on 3 May 2022 after faking his death in a fire.

ALSO READ: Who is Dr Nandipha Magudumana’s ex-husband Mkhuseli?

ZOLILE SEKELENI AND DR NANDIPHA MAGUDUMANA APPEAR IN COURT

A video of the 65-year-old former educator and his celebrity doctor daughter was shared on Twitter by Newzroom Afrika journalist Linda Mnisi.

ALSO READ: Thabo Bester, Dr Nandipha checked into JHB hotel before fleeing

In the video, a visibly teary Sekeleni is seen seated next to Magudumana as Mnisi asks him how he feels about being seated next to his daughter in court. Shaking his head and ignoring Mnisi’s question, Sekeleni leans in and talks to Magudumana.

Take a look…

[WATCH] On her Instagram, #DrNandiphaMagudumana says she was 6 years old when she told her dad that she wanted to be a dr. Years later, they are sharing the dock facing criminal charges. I ask her visibly teary dad how it feels… @Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/cVSnp03Kn1

— Linda Mnisi (@LindA_MniSii) April 17, 2023

SEKELENI GRANTED BAIL

A former G4S employee, Senohe Matsoara, and Integritron CCTV technician, Tebogo Lipholo, also joined Magudumana and Sekeleni who all face charges of arson for the fire in Bester’s cell, defeating the administration of justice and fraud. They also face murder charges for the unknown man initially believed to be Bester, whose charred body was found in his prison cell.

ALSO READ: Bester ‘assaulted’ Dr Nandipha in front of her children and friends

After the court proceedings, Sekeleni was released R10 000 on bail. He will be back in court on 16 May. The state has also dropped charges of arson and murder against Sekeleni. He now only faces charges of aiding and abetting a fugitive, defeating the ends of justice and fraud.

Meanwhile, Lipholo — who has a previous stock theft conviction — as well as Matsoara, were denied bail.

Magudumana was also denied bail. The disgraced doctor was remanded in custody on Thursday after being returned to South Africa with her partner Bester. She will remain in custody until 3 and 4 May, her next court appearance.

Bester appeared in the same court on Friday, 14 April, and his matter was postponed to 16 May. He is detained at the Kgosi Mampuru II C-Max prison in Pretoria.

ALSO READ: Why Malema believes Kokstad prison is better for Bester