By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Disgraced celebrity doctor Dr Nandipha Magudumana has been remanded in custody for a formal bail application set to be heard on the May 3 and 4.
Magudumana and three other suspects linked to Thabo Bester’s audacious prison break appeared in Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Monday morning.
One of the suspects is Magudumana’s father, Zolile Sekeleni and a former G4S employee, Senohe Matsoara.
Sekeleni and Matsoara, appeared in court briefly last Tuesday on charges of assisting an inmate to escape from lawful custody, defeating the ends of justice, fraud, murder and arson.
The fourth suspect is a 44-year-old employee, Teboho Lipholo, contracted to Integritron Integrated Solutions, a company that installs CCTV cameras at the Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC).
The aesthetic doctor kept her face hidden behind a mask and hoodie jacket.
But the magistrate Motlholo Khabisi asked Magudumana to remove her mask so she could be correctly identified for court records.
Advocate Themba Diba argued that it was not necessary because Magudumana’s identity has been confirmed. However, magistrate Khabisi ordered Magudumana to expose her face.
She also blew kisses to people sitting in the public gallery. It is unclear if her friends or family members were present for the proceedings.
The prosecutor, Sello Matlhoko, indicated that the state was opposed to bail against Magudumana, Matsoara and Lipholo and asked the three to be remanded in custody until May 3 when they will be applying for bail.
Magudumana is the CEO and founder of Optimum medical aesthetics solution company situated in Morningside, Sandton.
She is known for her lavish lifestyle and luxury mansion and cars. She also made it to Mail&Guardian 200 Young SA, SADC Top 100 Young Leaders 2018, Top 20 Most Influential Young South Africans 2018.
According to reports, Magudumana had in the past claimed three dead bodies from a mortuary and had also claimed to be Bester’s customary wife.
She claimed that one of the bodies was that of her father.
Magudumana’s father, Sekeleni, meanwhile has been granted R10,000 bail.
Sekeleni is accused of aiding convicted rapist and murderer, Bester, to escape from the Mangaung prison in May last year. He’s due back in court on 16 May.
Sekeleni initially faced a charge of murder, assisting a convicted Individual to escape from custody, fraud, and harbouring an escaped convict. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phaladi Supeng said the state decided to remove the charge of murder.