There was a lover’s reunion between Dr Nandipha Magudumana and her convicted lover Thabo Bester as the pair shared the dock for the first time since they were deported from Tanzania. Bester had been appearing in court virtually ever since his arrest in April. Bester and his 11 co-accused appeared briefly at the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court today.

RE-UNITING IN THE DOCK

As usual, Bester rocked up in an expensive white Loui Vuitton crew neck while Nandipha wore a white Nike hoody, all made up with a fresh hairstyle. As he entered the dock, Bester shared a joke with Dr Nandipha’s father before fist-bumping the rest of the accused and then he offered a handshake to his visibly smitten lover.

ABUSED IN PRISON

Bester’s defence Tsoeunyane Jeremiah Pela claims that his client is being treated in prison and said some valuables were stolen during the deportation process. He said: "My client says he spends 23 hours a day in handcuffs in his cell. He said some of the following items were taken from him during his deportation range from a laptop, marriage ring, watches, and luxury brand items from Louis Vuitton & Burberry. As well as cash in Rands and Dollars, Tanzanian, and Zambian currency," Pela said, adding that everything is worth R30 million.

NANDIPHA’S DEFENCE WON’T GIVE UP

Dr Nandipha’s defence Machini Motloung told the court that he is still involved in civil litigation and will continue reserving his client’s right to apply for bail. " The manner in which she was transported had all ingredients of indignity. Then she was handcuffed and placed in the back of a van and when the driver was speeding, she has no place to hold on to," Motloung said. A total of nine accused involved in the Thabo Bester escape saga have been granted bail while Nandipha and her driver and gardener Zanda Moyo are still behind bars. Moyo abandoned his bail bid in June while Nandipha tried to have the court to declare her arrest illegal. Senohe Matsoara, Tebogo Lipholo, Tieho Makhotsa, Anastassja Jansen, Magudumana’s father Zolile Sekeleni, Joel Makhetha, as well as Moeketsi Ramolula, were all granted R10 000. The case was postponed to 11 October for further investigation.