By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Celebrity doctor Mmereka Ntshani popularly known as Dr Pashy has opened a case against Dr Nandipha Magudumana and Thabo Bester.
The case is for forgery, fraud and theft after Magudumana and Bester were arrested in Tanzania.
Bester has been in the headlines for escaping from the maximum-security prison in May last year by faking his own death.
He was assisted by employees at the prison and Magudumana, who is an acquaintance to Ntshani.
At the time of the rearrest, Magudumana was found with two of Ntshani’s passports, one of which had been reported missing, prompting the issuing of the second document.
Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says the case was transferred to Sinoville police station for further investigation.
“The case was opened on Thursday 20 April 2023. The complainant alleges the pair defrauded her of money,” says Mathe.
Ntshani had previously issued a statement through her foundation, confirming that she was seeking legal advice on the potential stolen identity.
She also confirmed that Magudumana was one of the guest speakers at the organisation seminar in 2020.
However, she says that at the time of the event, the organisation was not aware of the allegations that have been reported on, in the media.
Bester made his first court appearance on 14 April, while Magudumana joined three others in the dock on 17 April after making a brief court appearance on the day they landed back on South African soil.
Senohe Motsoara, a former G4S employee and James Lipholo who has been linked to the CCTV tampering on the night Bester escaped are part of the total six arrested.
At the same time, bail was granted to the father of Bester’s alleged accomplice and lover, Magudumana.
Cornelius Sekeleni was granted R10,000 bail.
Magudumana, Lipholo, and Motsoare are expected to return to the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on 3 and 4 May for bail application, while Bester has been kept at the Kgosi Mampuru C-max correctional facility in Tshwane under 24-hour surveillance.