Magudumana Appears Separately In Court After Transport Delay Sparks Outrage: “Totally Unacceptable”

Dr Nandipha Magudumana made a brief solo appearance in the Free State High Court on Friday after a lengthy delay in being transported from prison.

Magudumana, her alleged accomplice Thabo Bester, and five others were scheduled to appear together in their ongoing prison escape case.

However, the doctor — accused of helping Bester flee the Mangaung Private Prison in 2021 and later arrested with him in Tanzania — arrived hours late and was brought before the judge separately.

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Her legal representative, Machini Motloung, told the court that officials from the Department of Correctional Services were fully responsible for the delay.

“What she told me today is that normally she is ready to be taken to court at 6 o’clock. So she has been awake since then till 9 o’clock when they arrived to take her to court. That is totally unacceptable.”

Correctional Services Under Scrutiny After Delayed Transport

Prosecutor Amanda Bester informed the court that the investigating officer accepted full responsibility for the delay, saying he had forgotten to arrange for a female officer to sign Magudumana out of Kroonstad Prison.

The explanation did not satisfy the defence, with Motloung insisting on a detailed written account of the events.

“For fairness and for proper administration of justice, it is quite prudent that we should have a full report on what happened.”

Case Postponed as Defence Seeks Answers

Standing in the dock holding a Bible and several books, Magudumana listened as the judge postponed the matter to March.

Her legal team maintains that the delay was avoidable and demands clarity from Correctional Services before the next appearance.

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