The day of reckoning started this morning when Dr. Nandipha Magudumana and her father Zolile Sekeleni met for the first time since the former’s arrest and deportation from Tanzania last week, but their reunion couldn’t have been less convenient as they appeared side by side at the Mangaung Magistrate’s court.
Photo: Twitter – Linda Mnisi
The ‘good Doctor’ (sarcastically speaking), is appearing alongside her father, a former G4S employee as well as an IT technician Tebogo Dipholo.
It is well understood that they would be expected to apply for bail before the matter proceeds to Trial.
Photo: Twitter – Linda Mnisi
Meanwhile, there was a hive of activity inside the courtroom where a myriad journalists from different media outlets converged to provide coverage for the broader masses.
As has been the case since last week, Newzroom Afrika journalist Linda Mnisi has been quite useful as far as providing a minute by minute coverage.
However, his often successful gentle-toned questioning elicited a not quite a pleasant reaction from Dr. Nandipha’s father, after he asked him how he was feeling seeing and sitting next to his daughter in court.
And quite unexpectedly, the old man’s countenance (facial expression), changed quite dramatically as he his head to show disapproval for the question, and his eyes appeared teary, possibly filled with regrets.
Photo: Twitter – Linda Mnisi.
It is unclear what exactly he was relaying to his daughter, but less than a second later, he was observed whispering something to her ear with considerable conviction.
Her response was a forceful nod that suggested the two are unlikely to go down without a fight.
Photo: Twitter – Linda Mnisi
Despite the fact that many legal experts believe the accused have little to no chance of prevailing in their defense against the state’s charges of murder, obstructing the course of justice, and fraud, one cannot completely rule out the possibility that they will use every legal strategy at their disposal to avoid responsibility.
The Dad was granted bail, but it will be intriguing to watch whether the court decides to grant Nandipha bail, but many South Africans will be disappointed if Nandipha is successful given her flight risk.
Photo: Twitter – Linda Mnisi — Sekeleni after he was granted bail.
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