Not for the first time, Thabo Bester’s co-accused and rumoured girlfriend Nandipha Magudumana has been accused of playing on the public’s sympathies.
In a bail appearance on Tuesday, 29 August, the celebrity aesthetics doctor appeared sad and sorrowful.
At one point, cameras zoomed in as tears poured down her face.Nandipha Magudumana appeared alone in the dock during her bail application at the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court.
The mother-of-two and ten others – including Thabo Bester – are accused of helping the latter escape the Mangaung Correctional Centre last year.
But unlike her previous appearance, where she held hands and looked lovingly in Bester’s eyes, the prominent businesswoman appeared sad and dejected this time.While wearing an immaculately made-up face and sophisticated hairstyle, Magudumana kept her eyes down as her bail application was read in court.
There were no smiles or waves at the public gallery. Instead, Nandipha shed tears while her attorney claimed that Bester had “forced” her.
Take a look at scenes from the court…Nandipha’s appearance comes just days after she claims that she was abused by many men in her life, possibly including Thabo Bester.
ABUSED WOMAN?
Shortly after Nandipha’s arrest in Tanzania alongside Thabo Bester, a WhatsApp voicenote from the latter went viral.
In the audio clip is what appears to be Bester verbally abusing and threatening to “kill” his partner in crime.However, in the court of public opinion, her loving behaviour towards the convicted rapist and murderer cast doubt on the validity of the incidents above.
NO SYMPATHY FOR TEARS
Although Nandipha may have intended to appear helpless and sad in court on Tuesday, many social media users saw claimed they saw through her seeming facade.
Entertainment personality Phil Mphela was the first to call her out, tweeting: “I bet Dr Nandipha watches all the media coverage around her. She must have seen the body language analysis around her last appearance.
“Today, because she wants sympathy, she looks so dejected. Actress, or she is finally seeing the writing on the wall?