There were dramatic and surprising scenes at the Free State High Court on Friday when convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester and his alleged accomplice Dr Nandipha Magudumana appeared together for the prison break case.
What happened at the Thabo Bester court case today?
The pair, who have been at the centre of one of South Africa’s biggest criminal scandals, grabbed attention not only for legal delays but also for their visible chemistry inside the courtroom.
The Thabo Bester case was meant to move forward, but once again proceedings were delayed.
This time, Bester fired his lawyers — for the third time since his re-arrest in 2023. He has now appointed Advocate Mo-Afrika Wa Maila as his new legal representative.
Judge Lani Opperman expressed frustration at the constant delays, but Bester’s new lawyer told the court:
“We don’t just withdraw, my lady; we get terminated, and we can’t force ourselves to be in court when we are terminated. I hope Mr Bester will bear with me to represent him till the end, but should he terminate me, I can’t force to be in this court.”
Because of these changes, the trial has now been postponed to 5 December 2025.
Watch: Dr Nandipha gets flirty with Bester
Beyond the legal drama, what stood out was the body language between Magudumana and Bester.
Dr Nandipha entered court in a stylish double-breasted suit with a yellow scarf, immediately drawing attention. She exchanged long glances with Bester, at one point leaning toward him during breaks, creating what many described as “flirty” moments.
Observers noted that this was the first time the pair had been seen together in public since the release of the Netflix documentary about Bester’s escape, in which Magudumana was paid for archive material.
She also shared an emotional hug with her father, Zolile Sekeleni, who is also a co-accused in the case.
Meanwhile, Magudumana’s lawyers have filed fresh papers at the Constitutional Court, challenging her extradition and arrest from Tanzania, after the Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed her earlier appeal in May. Her Constitutional Court bid is one of the reasons the main trial cannot yet proceed.
The case involves Bester, Magudumana, and several others accused of helping him escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in 2022 by faking his death in a fire.
For now, both remain in custody as the legal process drags on, but the public continues to be fascinated not only by the high-stakes case but also by the ongoing personal dynamics between the two.