The case of a successful doctor who helped her lover, a rapist and murderer, escape from prison is captivating in South Africa

Nandipha MagudumanaA socialite doctor, mother of two who runs a successful skincare and cosmetic clinic in Johannesburg’s posh Sandton district, fell in love with a convicted murderer she allegedly helped him escape from prison.

She was very active on social networks and bragged about her lifestyle on Instagramwith luxury cars, vacations in luxury resorts and beautiful villas.

The woman appeared in court in Bloemfontein on Monday, charged with several charges, including murder, after the runaway lovers were arrested in Tanzania following a manhunt that had put the country on edge.

Wearing peach colored Nike sneakers and anklets, Magudumana, 34, applied for bail but did not speak. After the suspension of the case, she was taken into custody.

She often posed alongside her clients, many of whom were celebrities, and was regarded as a role model for young South Africans.

The doctor, separated from her husband since 2019, He is now charged with complicity with a fugitive, murder, desecration of a corpse and fraud.

To flee abroad with her lover, she left her children behind.

During the hearing, he briefly took off the mask he was wearing to show his face, forced by the judge.

Monday’s hearing was the latest chapter in a case that has dominated headlines ever since the police had to admit that Magudumana’s lover, Thabo Bester, had escaped from prison.

Bester faked his own death by leaving a charred corpse in his cell, a spectacular escape that has led to a parliamentary inquiry amid allegations of lack of scrutiny and complicity by officials.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said he was “disturbed” by the case, which is especially compelling as Magudumana went from socialite doctor to fugitive.

runaway lovers

Thabo Bester, nicknamed the “Facebook Rapist”, was sentenced to life in prison in 2012he drew his victims to that social network to rape and rob them and murdered at least one.

He escaped from a private prison almost a year ago, but the police only confirmed it last month.

In May 2022, a man’s charred corpse was found in Bester’s cell, leading prison authorities to believe he set himself on fire.

But the DNA revealed that the corpse belonged to another person and his identity is still unknown.

Bester’s case resurfaced in October last year, when investigative journalism organization GroundUp raised questions about his death.

Under public pressure, South African authorities began to search for him after the details of his escape were discovered.

Bester and Magudumana were arrested in Arusha, a city in Tanzania, in early April when they are presumably heading for the Kenyan border along with another alleged accomplice.

According to the police, the suspects were in possession of several unstamped passports.

The pair were flown back to South Africa on a specially chartered plane and taken into custody.

Four other people were arrested in connection with the escape plan, including the doctor’s father, who allegedly helped Bester escape prison and was linked to the murder of the man found in jail.