Nandipha Magudumana has opened a case of assault at Parkweg police station in Bloemfontein, Free State against a Correctional Services detention facility in Kroonstad.
This after Magudumana missed the Thabo Bester prison escape court appearance in the Bloemfontein magistrate’s court due to reported ill-health.
She collapsed in the police station’s holding cells shortly before her highly-expected appearance in the magistrate’s court on Wednesday morning.
Her attorney, Machini Motloung confirmed on Wednesday that Magudumana was not in good health and could not attend court.
Motloung said his client was ill-treated as she was transferred to Bloemfontein, noting that the people responsible for that should be held accountable.
Moreover, he insisted that the defence team will pursue an application for bail, especially given the events that unfolded on Wednesday.
Free State police spokesperson Motantsi Makhele confirmed that a case of assault was opened on Wednesday.
“Dr Nandipha Magudumana alleged that she was assaulted at Correctional Services detention facility in Kroonstad, where she was apparently admitted in its hospital wing,” said Makhele.
“The matter will be transferred to Kroonstad detective services for further investigation and no one has been arrested so far.”
Asked about Magudumana’s condition shortly after she fainted on Wednesday, Makhele confirmed that emergency medical services attended to the accused but “nothing wrong with her health condition was picked up by the examiners”.
Magudumana faces charges of fraud and corruption, violating a corpse, habouring and concealing an escaped offender, and defeating the ends of justice.
In her absence, state prosecutor Amanda Bester announced that Magudumana, Bester and Zando Moyo would remain in custody until their next court date.
Charges against former G4S employees Natassja Jansen, Thabang Mier and Moeketsi Ramolula were dropped on Wednesday, six other accused remain out on bail.
The Thabo Bester matter will resume at the Bloemfontein High Court for pre-trial in February 2024.
Bester, Magudumana and Moyo were nabbed in Arusha, Tanzania on April 8 2023 before being deported back to South Africa a week later.
