Zolile Sekeleni, the father of disgraced celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana, has reportedly told police that he has never received , Thabo Bester.
According to Sunday World, the former educator said that the only lobolo he has ever received for his daughter, was from the Magudumanas when Dr Mkhuseli Magudumana and Dr Nandipha were in the process of getting married. The former couple tied the knot in a glitzy wedding in 2013 but allegedly separated in 2018.
After Bester’s audacious escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre, Dr Nandipha claimed his charred body as his “customary wife” — GroundUp reported. She was also seen wearing a wedding ring during her second appearance in the Bloemfontein magistrate’s court on Monday, 17 April — raising questions about her marital status.
However, her father allegedly said he knows nothing about her marriage to Bester.
“He said as far as he is concerned, his daughter was still a makoti of the Magudumanas despite being estranged,” claimed the police source.
Sekeleni also allegedly distanced himself from Thabo Bester’s escape.
Police who visited Dr Nandipha at Bizzah Makhate Female Prison in Kroonstad reportedly told the publication that the dermatologist said that just thinking her father could be involved in crime is both “unconvincing and far-fetched”.
Dr Nandipha allegedly confessed that the plan to deliver the dead boy (which has now been identified as Katlego Bereng Mpholo) was hatched by her and some of the prison officials who work for G4S — the multi-million rand company in charge of Mangaung Correctional Centre where Bester escaped from on 3 May last year.
In addition, Dr Nandipha exonerated her father of the other two unidentified bodies she reportedly stole from the Free State mortuaries.Sekeleni was released on R10 000 bail on 17 April. He will be back in court on 16 May and now only faces charges of aiding and abetting a fugitive, defeating the ends of justice and fraud.
Magudumana; a former G4S employee, Senohe Matsoara; and Integritron Integrated Solutions CCTV technician, Tebogo Lipholo, all face charges of arson for the fire in Bester’s cell, defeating the administration of justice and fraud. They also face murder charges for Katlego Bereng Mpholo whose charred body was found in his prison cell.
The trio was denied bail and remanded in custody until 3 and 4 May, their next court appearance. They will appear alongside another G4S employee, Motanyane John Masukela, who appeared briefly in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 20 April.