The girlfriend of Bester, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, through her defence lawyers, announced that she is at this stage reserving her right to apply for bail. 

Her defence said she will apply for bail on 16 May when she appears alongside her boyfriend Thabo Bester and her father.

Adv. Frans Dlamini told the Bloemfontein Magistrate, Mohlolo Khabisi, that there are still matters of importance that the team needs to finalise. He says they hoped that they would be ready for today but matters at hand forced them to relook into the matter, hence that decision. 

Adv. Dlamini said Magudumana told them she does not wish to exercise her right to apply for bail today but rather later. 

She faces a string of charges, including arson, violating a dead body, defeating the ends of justice, and aiding and abetting a convicted prisoner to escape from jail. She is among six suspects in court today. 

Magistrate Khabisi granted the appeal for Magudumana to stand down and reserve her bail application.

Magudumana and her defence team, including Adv. Motloung and Adv. Dlamini, were excused from the proceedings. 

The matter will, however, continue with the remaining five suspects. The state is opposing bail.

OFM News