Dr Nandipha Magudumana is said to have collapsed on Tuesday morning in police holding cells ahead of her court appearance at the Bloemfontein Magistrate Court with 11 other accused. Dr Nandipha's lawyer told journalists that he went to consult with her on Tuesday and he left prison knowing that she was not well.

"I was surprised this morning when I got a call from a journalist telling me that Dr Nandipha was taken by force to court. Right now, she's on the floor and these are the harshest inhumane conditions anyone can be subjected to. Even accused persons have rights but now we are sitting with someone who is unwell and unfit to appear in court," he said adding that it is not the first time an accused gets sick and if there is evidence to prove this to the court, the matter is postponed. " All l know is that right now she is not in a healthy state, but she is expected to be in court. I went to try and see her, but they only allowed me to speak to her through a glass window."

Magudumana was set to appear with her convicted lover Thabo Bester, and 10 other accused in court on charges relating to Bester's escape saga from the Mangaung Correctional Facility in May last year. Dr Nandipha Bester and the rest of the accused are facing charges ranging from fraud, corruption, aiding and abetting a prisoner escape and tampering with a corpse. Charges against three GS4 colleagues in the matter have been withdrawn. Natasha Jansen, Moeketsi Ramolula and Thabang Miern were each out on R10 000 following their arrests in May and June.

While court proceeded Bester told the court that he will be adding to his defence. He said he will be adding advocate Dali Mpofu and Advocate Zandile Mshololo, who is currently representing accused five in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial to his defence. "I feel that there's quite a few things that I want them to deal with," said Bester. He said he will still continue using the services of his current defence team. The suspects will be back in court on 21 February for pre-trial conference.