Magudumana's lawyers to approach ConCourt over plea delays

BLOEMFONTEIN – Prosecutors in the Thabo Bester prison escape case say they will be writing to the Constitutional Court to inform the justices of the delays caused by an appeal brought before them.

On Friday, the case stalled once again in the Free State High Court; this time, it was due to Dr Nandipha Magudumana’s bid in the apex court, which has not been heard.

Magudumana has approached the Constitutional Court to challenge the lawfulness of her extradition from Tanzania after the Supreme Court dismissed her plea.

Bester and Magudumana were arrested in Tanzania in April 2023 – after Bester’s escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre, where he was serving a life sentence.

Magududmana’s lawyers have told the Free State High Court that while it’s been months since they approached the Constitutional Court, they have not been given a date or directives from the apex court.

The delays have caused the main escape case involving Magudumana-Bester and seven others to stall once again, with the trial pushed to early next year.

The matter will, however, return to court in December for an update on the readiness for trial.