The Minister of Home Affairs Dr Aaron Motsoaledi says Home Affairs intends to revoke Dr Nandipha Magudumana's passport. This, he says, is because her deportation from Tanzania cost the department money spent through a chartered flight. Motsoaledi said in April that the private charter flight used to repatriate Thabo Bester and Magudumana, from Tanzania to South Africa, cost around R1.4 million. Magudumana was found in possession in Tanzania of her passport and two of Dr Mmereka 'Dr Pashy' Ntshani.

SHE WAS NOT KIDNAPPED

Addressing the media today, Motsoaledi insists that Magudumana was lawfully deported from Tanzania and not abducted or kidnapped as she has claimed in her court application in her attempt to be released from prison. "The department officials were part of a multi-disciplinary delegation that went to Tanzania to bring Magudumana and Thabo Bester back to the country after they were declared illegal immigrants there and were ordered to leave the country within three days," Motsoaledi said. He added, "The director-general immediately addressed a letter dated 21 May 2023 to her attorneys raising objection to the non-joinder of the DHA (Department of Home Affairs) and I demanded that the ill-advised application be removed from the urgent roll," the minister said. "For her team to go to court and say she was abducted and not cite us as respondents in court papers is suspicious." Magudumana has filed an urgent application for the Free State High Court to declare her arrest in Tanzania and deportation to South Africa unlawful. The matter will be heard this Thursday.

RETRACTING STATEMENT ON DR PHASHY

Motsoaledi also retracted his claims that celebrity doctor Mmereka Ntsani. known as Dr Pashy, had deposed of an affidavit that her passport had been stolen. During a media briefing last month, Motsoaledi said that Magudumana had not stolen Ntshani's identity. He said Ntshani told police in 2019 that her passport had been stolen, but Ntshani told police in March this year that she had given Magudumana her passport to help her get a work visa in America. Dr Pashy, sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Minister and also demanded the retraction of his comments and a public apology. Magudumana was found with Dr Pashy's two passports during her arrest in Tanzania.

BESTER AN OFFICIAL SA CITIZEN

Meanwhile, Dr Motsoaledi has issued Bester with a South African Identity Document. "Bester has cooperated with officials who are issuing him with an ID. His mom has also signed the relevant documents. Bester has an ID as of the 17th of May 2023. He is now registered. I have permission from Bester to show his ID." He said the process of granting Bester an ID included investigation, interviewing his mother, and going back to the hospital where he was born. Dr Motsoaledi emphasised that Bester has also never applied for an ID. "The services of Home Affairs were enlisted by law enforcement to establish the identity of Bester. We were part of the team that went to Tanzania to facilitate the lawful deportation of Bester and Magudumuna." He said, "Going to Kgosi Mmampuru Prison was not a secret mission. We took a mobile home affairs truck & some inmates were processed, as well as others who converted from the green ID to the smart ID card."