BLOEMFONTEIN – ZOLILE Sekeleni, the father of Dr Nandipha Magudumana, was granted R10 000 bail in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Monday.
africa
April 18, 2023
News24
2 min read
Dr Nandipha Magudumana's father granted bail
Zolile Sekeleni, the father of Dr Nandipha Magudumana
Story highlights
Magudumana remains in custody with her co-accused
The accused doctor was asked to reveal her face in court as she again appeared with her face partially covered
Sekeleni and his co-accused - Magudumana, former G4S employee Senohe Matsoara, and camera installer Teboho Lipholo - are accused of helping convicted rapist and murderer, Thabo Bester escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein in May 2022
Bester is also charged in the case and appeared in the dock alone on Friday. He will return to court on May 16.
In courtroom 17 on Monday, Sekeleni was seen comforting Magudumana as the two sat side by side before proceedings began.
Moments later, they were separated as the accused had to sit in the order they were listed in the indictment. Lipholo then shuffled between father and daughter.
Once the court was in session, the prosecutor asked the magistrate to compel Magudumana to show her face fully.
As with her court appearance on Thursday, the celebrity doctor covered her nose, mouth, and chin with a face mask.
Her head was once again covered with the hood of her tracksuit sweater.
Following the magistrate's instructions, Magudumana pulled down her mask and lifted her hood. A swath of camera clicks could be heard as photojournalists captured her unmasked face.
The hearing then turned to the matter of Sekeleni's request for bail. The man began to cry as the magistrate granted his bail application.
His instructing attorney, Ryan Ishmael, had asked for R2 000 bail to be granted, but the State proposal of R10 000 was upheld.
Sekeleni, who lives in Port Edward, was granted bail because the charge of murder had been removed from his charge sheet. He is now accused of aiding and abetting Bester's escape, a lesser offence.
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The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)'s provincial spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, said the 65-year-old was unwell and taking a lot of medication so the State opted not to oppose bail.
The magistrate agreed to postpone the case to May 3, when Magudumana, Matsoara and Lipholo will return to court. The case has been set down for two days.
It is understood the three accused may follow Sekeleni and apply for bail next month.
During proceedings, it was also revealed Lipholo had been convicted for stock theft in 2007.
Sekeleni's relatives, including his wife and one of his daughters, had to wait for power to return after load shedding struck the court to pay his bail and have him released.
His wife, who declined to speak to News24, brought him a suit to change in to after his release.
Earlier, she cried when she saw her husband and daughter enter the dock.
Once court adjourned, she reached out for Magudumana's hand as the doctor was led down to the holding cells below the courtroom. – News24
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