Nandipha Magudumana bail

The High Court in Bloemfontein dismisses Magudumana’s urgent application with costs. Images via Twitter: @am_blujay

BREAKING: Nandipha Magudumana’s arrest challenge dismissed

The Free State High Court in Bloemfontein has dismissed Dr Nandipha Magudumana’s urgent application with costs.

Nandipha Magudumana bail

The High Court in Bloemfontein dismisses Magudumana’s urgent application with costs. Images via Twitter: @am_blujay

Dr Nandipha Magudumana filed an urgent application in the High Court earlier this month, calling for her to be released from custody.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Thabo Bester and Nandipha’s matter postponed to June

Court dismisses Nandipha Magudumana’s arrest challenge

This morning, the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein dismissed Dr Nandipha Magudumana’s urgent application with costs.

Judge Phillip Loubser who handed down the judgment said the arrest was lawful and Magudumana agreed to return to South Africa.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Thabo Bester and co-accused in court

Magudumana wanted the court to declare her arrest in Tanzania illegal.

She is among the seven people arrested for aiding and abetting murder and rape convict Thabo Bester to escape from prison.

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ARRESTED IN TANZANIA

Thabo Bester and Nandipha Magudumana were arrested along with a Mozambican national who was assisting them.

They were found in possession of several passports, with different names, and none of the passports had been stamped.

ALSO READ: Fired prison guard boasted new car before Thabo Bester’s escape

Police Minister Bheki Cele said that Tanzanian police had followed the fugitives as they were leaving their hotel in a black SUV.

It is believed that they were on their way to crossing the Tanzanian border, presumably into Kenya.

Nandipha Magudumana's
Nandipha Magudumana arriving in South Africa after they were arrested in Tanzania. Image: Screenshots/@ChriseldaLewis

Nandipha Magudumana and Thabo Bester were found in the Arusha region of Tanzania which is close to the Kenyan border.

He escaped from Mangaung Correctional Centre on 3 May 2022 after faking his death in a cell fire.

ALSO READ: Thabo Bester and co-accused to appear in court

The burnt corpse found in the cell was collected by Magudumana but it was later confiscated by police.

Nandipha Magudumana then approached the Pretoria High Court, asking for the corpse to be returned to her and claiming to be Bester’s customary law wife.

Court papers filed by the South African Police Service revealed that there was no DNA match between the corpse and Bester’s biological mother, therefore, the body found in the cell was not Thabo Bester.

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