The Department of Correctional Services has strongly denied fresh allegations surrounding Dr Nandipha Magudumana, insisting that the rumours about her being pregnant are false and without merit.
Magudumana, who is currently held at the Bizzah Makhate Correctional Centre in Kroonstad, has been the subject of speculation after claims circulated on social media that she had fallen pregnant while in custody. The allegations went further to suggest that a senior officer at the facility was responsible and had been placed on special leave as a result.
Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo dismissed the claims outright, stating that there is no truth to the speculation. He labelled the rumours as unfounded and described them as an attempt to mislead the public. According to Nxumalo, there is no basis for suggesting either that Magudumana is pregnant or that any senior official has been implicated.
“These allegations are baseless and without merit,” Nxumalo said, confirming that reports about Magudumana’s supposed pregnancy were “completely untrue.”
The rumours began spreading rapidly online, with viral posts alleging that Magudumana was four months pregnant. This is not the first time such claims have circulated.
Her lawyer, Machini Motloung, also responded forcefully, describing the allegations as both malicious and damaging. He criticised the spread of such claims, pointing out that they amount to a violation of Magudumana’s rights.
“This is a serious violation of Dr Magudumana's rights. Those irresponsible allegations went out for the second time this year, still claiming four pregnant. Even now, they are talking about being four months pregnant. We won't waste our time focusing on unfounded allegations,” Motloung said.
The Department of Correctional Services has echoed these concerns, reiterating its position that the rumours are nothing more than fake news. Officials have emphasised that there is no evidence to support them and that Magudumana remains in custody under standard conditions.
Magudumana has been incarcerated at the Kroonstad facility since 2023, following her arrest in connection with the escape of convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester. She stands accused of playing a central role in helping Bester flee the Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022 in what has been described as a sophisticated and elaborate escape plan.
Her charges include fraud, corruption, violation of a dead body, and aiding a convicted prisoner to escape from lawful custody, among others. The scale of the case has drawn national attention, particularly given the shocking details of how Bester was able to walk free from a high-security facility.
The Free State High Court has scheduled Magudumana’s trial to be heard jointly with Bester’s. Proceedings are set to begin on 10 November and are expected to shed light on the full extent of the escape plot, as well as the roles of those accused of assisting him.
Both the public and media are closely monitoring developments, with anticipation building ahead of the trial. The case has already sparked widespread debate about corruption and security lapses within South Africa’s correctional system.
For now, Correctional Services remains firm in its stance that there is no credibility to the pregnancy claims. By dismissing them as fake news, the department has sought to shift focus back to the upcoming trial, which is likely to reveal more about one of the most high-profile criminal cases the country has seen in recent years.
“Tell us what you think about this story in the comments!”
Follow Us on Twitter
