Nandipha Magudumana Draws Public Attention with Visibly Concerning Court Appearance Alongside Thabo Bester
Disgraced doctor Nandipha Magudumana appeared in the Bloemfontein High Court on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, looking visibly worn down and physically deteriorated, marking a stark contrast from her previous court appearances where she often presented herself in full makeup, fashionable attire, and an air of calm control. This time, she cut a gaunt figure, drawing concern and speculation from observers both in court and across social media.
Magudumana’s face appeared drained and pale, and the signature composure that previously defined her appearances was notably absent. She stood alongside her co-accused, including her father, and also her boyfriend Thabo Bester, with a blank expression and noticeably low energy, quietly enduring the court proceedings. Once known as a glamorous “celebrity doctor,” her current state suggested the heavy toll of months behind bars, legal losses, and public scrutiny.
Thabo Bester and Nandipha Magudumana | SUPPLIED
Despite her appearance, the court session continued without incident. One of the co-accused, a former G4S prison employee, had charges against him withdrawn and was released, but Magudumana remains in custody as the case moves forward. Her legal team has continued to challenge the legality of her arrest and deportation from Tanzania, though prior rulings have dismissed these arguments.
As the trial date looms, attention is now not only on the outcome of her charges but on the visible unraveling of someone once seen as composed and in control. Tuesday’s hearing offered no dramatic developments in the case itself, but Magudumana’s deteriorated condition was, in many ways, the loudest statement in the room.
Netizens took to X to express their dismay concerning Nandipha’s physical appearance.
@PebblesNeo posted a side-by-side picture of Nandipha to compare the contrast, saying: “From this, to that??? Oh Nandipha uzifake kwinton. Ai shame prison life is not nice.”
@Misah_Mdiza commented on the Nandipha’s physical state, saying: “Haibo, what happened to Nandipha?”
@Am_Blujay said, “Bester is even gaining weight while she is losing weight, he knows he belongs there while she signed up for that life because of love.”