The defence lawyers representing Nandipha Magudumana, who is accused of aiding her boyfriend to escape from lawful custody in May 2022, will on Monday (4/9) deliver their final closing argument in her bail application in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court.

Adv. Machini Motloung will complete the set of arguments whilst his colleague, Adv. Frans Dhlamini, started their argument for the bail application. Magudumana wants bail to be granted, citing a variety of reasons. The state is opposing bail, citing the flight risk involved.

The state prosecutor, Sello Matlhoko, is also expected to deliver his final closing argument on Monday. 

On Thursday (31/8), the bail application was postponed by Magistrate Estelle de Lange to today.

Adv. Dhlamini previously said the state has lied and contradicted itself on the affidavit of the state witness and the charge sheet. He questioned why only 2 charges, of the 16 she has been accused of, would constitute a Schedule 5 offence?

He said they were more than convinced that the suspect faces a mere schedule 1 offence, and the state does not have an overwhelming case as previously mentioned.

This after the National Prosecution Authority said Magudumana is looking at a lengthy jail term for her alleged role in aiding a convicted rapist and murderer from lawful custody. State prosecutor Matlhoko said the suspect has no regard nor respect for the law.

A state witness in his affidavit said Magudumana fetched Bester from KwaZulu-Natal after he made a daring escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre.  

She and Bester rented a place where they made renovations and also had security personnel. Later on, Magudumana and Bester fled the country via Zimbabwe and were arrested in Arusha, Tanzania, in transit to Kenya. They were then brought back to the country in April 2023 where she appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court and was remanded in custody. 

Bester was then transferred to the Kgosi Mampuru Maximum Centre in Pretoria.

The two appeared together in court on 8 August for the first time since their arrest. They appeared in good spirits. However, after that court appearance, Magudumana told the could that Bester threatened, forced, and pressured her into the car. She is among 12 suspects arrested for aiding Bester to escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre 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.

OFM News