By: Natasha Archary

Dr Nandipha Magudumana will be represented by former Legal Aid Head, Machini Motloung and Advocate Frans Dlamini.
This after the legal team who represented Thabo Bester’s alleged accomplice at her first court appearance withdrew from representing Magudumana.
Magudumana appeared for Day 1 of her bail application hearing which will continue on Thursday, 04 May in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court.
The doctor who is facing charges of murder, aiding the escape of a prisoner, defeating the ends of justice, violation of bodies and fraud, appeared without her signature face mask and hoodie masking her identity.
Dr Nandipha Magudumana who was living the life of luxury with Thabo Bester prior to them fleeing the country, now seemingly cannot afford legal expenses, opting for Legal Aid to represent her.
Legal Aid has new thresholds to assist more South African in need of legal assistance:
- Applications for legal aid in criminal or civil cases – applicants must earn less than R8 200 per month.
- Applications for legal aid in civil cases where the applicant is a member of a household – applicants must earn less than R9 000 per month.
- If an applicant owns movable assets, they must not be worth more than R151 700.
- If an applicant owns immovable assets, they must not be worth more than R711 700.
Magudumana appeared with two additional co-accused, Tieho Makhotsa and Nastassja Jansen, who were both arrested on 01 May.
The new additions to the accused list of suspects in Thabo Bester’s escape are also former G4S employees.
Bester also in need of a new legal team
Meanwhile, the convicted rapist and murderer, Thabo Bester is reportedly without legal representation as well, after his attorney dropped him due non-payment of legal fees.
This according to SABC journalist Chriselda Lewis who claimed to receive this information last week.
Lewis shared that this is actually the second legal team that has dropped the notorious fraudster and criminal, after the team who represented Bester at his first court appearance also bailed on him for the same reason.
Bester who is expected back in court together with his accomplice, Dr Nandipha’s father, on 16 May, will now need to find a new legal team to represent him.
The case against Magudumana and other co-accused has been postponed to 11 and 12 May.
Also read: Simz Ngema confirms she visited Thabo Bester in prison 5 years ago



