Dohne Damons
On Saturday many South Africans who closely follow the story of Thabo Bester and Dr Nandipha Magudumana woke up to the news that Nandipha filed an urgent application to rule her arrest as unlawful.
Nandipha was arrested in April along with Thabo Bester. The two were then brought back to South Africa in a private jet at its cheapest rate which cost R1.4 million.
The application details Nandipha’s version of what took place in Tanzania “on or about 6th April 2023”. According to the application, this is the day of the arrest.
On the evening of the 12th April 2023 I was told I was going home, and ultimately I was blindfolded and taken to an airport in Tanzania.
Nandipha Magudumana
The application further details how two South African police officers escorted Nandipha to an aircraft where she was accompanied by the officers and members of the defense force.
Nandipha subsequently received representation on 3rd May. Her attorney advised her that she was unlawfully returned to South Africa and that the process in which it was handled is interpreted as abduction.
I have been advised that where I have been abducted from a foreign state and brought to South Africa and detained, the effect of such abduction on the jurisdiction of the Trial Court, the Court lacks jurisdiction.
Nandipha Magudumana
She further argues that while she was in Tanzania, only a valid Tanzanian court order would have made her transport by South African authorities legal.
With that said the application requests that the Court:
- that the application be heard for the non-compliance with the process, service, and form be condoned
- transport to South Africa and the arrest and detention be declared unlawful
- that Nandipha is discharged from detention
Read the full application here: Dr Nandipha Magudumana Application

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