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Thabo Bester expresses “concern” for Nandipha Magudumana ahead of Netflix documentary

BLOEMFONTEIN — 11 September 2023

Thabo Bester has voiced “concern” for his former girlfriend Nandipha Magudumana through a lawyer, as Netflix prepares to release a documentary about their alleged crimes and rumours swirl about Magudumana’s prison conditions.

Bester and Magudumana filed an urgent High Court application to halt Friday’s release of “Beauty and the Bester”, seeking postponement until after their November trial. (court filing)

Bester criticized the documentary’s portrayal as “dehumanising”, specifically naming Magudumana’s father Zolile Sekeleni’s involvement as potentially prejudicing their trial. (lawyer statement)

His lawyer revealed Bester is “troubled” by the documentary’s impact on Magudumana, calling her his “primary concern”. The lawyer stated: “He is frustrated with how he is being portrayed…they are equating Bester as a beast”. (eNCA interview)

Rumours about Magudumana’s pregnancy in custody spread via a deleted Instagram post. The Department of Correctional Services denied this: “We want to categorically state that this is untrue and unsubstantiated”. (DCS statement)

The same post claimed a senior correctional officer was placed on special leave and that Bester planned to sue authorities. These claims remain unverified as the post was removed. (unverified social media)

Magudumana faces charges including orchestrating Bester’s 2022 prison escape, fraud, and corpse violations. The pair’s trial opens on 10 November at Bloemfontein High Court. (National Prosecuting Authority)

Editor’s note: Details about pregnancy rumours specifically attributed to sources; unverified claims marked accordingly.