Nandipha Magudumana will on Tuesday (29/8) apply for bail at the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court.

The Free State National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, confirmed this with OFM News. Magudumana, who was arrested in Tanzania in April 2023, alongside her boyfriend and convicted escapee Thabo Bester, previously reserved her right to a bail application.

She has now failed twice in her attempts to get her arrest in Tanzania to be declared unlawful and unconstitutional by the Free State High Court.

Nandipha Magudumana will on Tuesday (29/8) apply for bail. Photo: Lucky Nkuyane

She is among 12 suspects arrested for aiding Bester to escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre under the guard of the British company G4S in May 2022. Nine suspects, including accused 1, Senohe Matsoara, are out on R10 000 bail. It is only Magudumana, Bester, and an illegal immigrant from Zimbabwe Zando Moyo who remain in custody.

The suspects face charges ranging from aiding, abetting, defeating ends of justice, violating a dead body, and fraud. Most of the suspects were arrested by the police’s provincial organised crime unit in June and July whilst more are former G4S security guards.

According to the police, accused 1, Matsoara, accused 3, Teboho James Lipholo, and accused 7, Tieho Frans Makhotsa, all received thousands of rands for aiding and abetting Bester to escape from G4S.

Thabo Bester in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court. Photos: Lucky Nkuyane

A Free State police officer, attached to the provincial organised crime unit, Tieho Flyman, who gave testimony during the bail application, said: “According to our investigations money was the major factor. A bank statement proved that R30 000 was first paid through the account of Lipholo's wife before the escape.”

Lipholo's wife explained that her husband said the money should be paid into her bank account and that he knew about the money. After the escape, the other R10 000 was transferred from Matsoara's bank account to Lipholo's. 

The suspects face charges ranging from aiding, abetting, defeating ends of justice, violating a dead body, and fraud. Photo: Lucky Nkuyane

Tom Katlego-Motsepe Nkwana (Bester) made regular payments of R20 000, R25 000, and R30 000 to Matsoara while in prison. Matsoara received about R150 000 from April and after the escape in May 2022. Tieho Makhotsa accused 7, was paid R14 000. He first received R10 000 and then R4 000 after Bester's escape in May 2022. The case has been postponed till 11 October 2023 for further investigation.

OFM News