Dr Nandipha Magudumana Takes Showmax on, Threatens Legal Action To Block Docuseries Release

• Dr Nandipha Magudumana has threatened to launch an urgent application to stop Showmax from releasing a docuseries called Tracking Thabo Bester
• The four-part investigation of the series screens in two halves on Showmax on 15 and 22 March 2024
• Magudumana insists on her legal team reviewing the Showmax documentary before airing, or she will pursue legal action against the channel

Trisha Pillay is a Briefly News current affairs journalist in Johannesburg. Beginning her 13-year-long career at eNCA, she honed her skills in reporting, and coverage of crime and court cases, which she further developed at the Citizen Newspaper, African News Network and Newzroom Afrika. Do you have a hard news story you would like to share? Email: trisha.pillay@briefly.co.za with CA in the subject line.

BLOEMFONTEIN - Dr Nandipha Magudumana has threatened to launch an urgent application in the Free State High Court to stop the release of Showmax’s docu-series called ‘Tracking Thabo Bester’, set to premiere on March 15.

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Magudumana threatens legal action

Her legal team has requested that the Multichoice group provide them with a copy of their upcoming documentary titled Tracking Thabo Bester by Saturday.

According to SABC, this is to establish whether any issues in the episodes would prejudice Magudumana’s rights.

In the letter of demand, Magudumana’s lawyers say she did not grant any right, permission or authority to any party to film and no personal interviews were held with her, which raises concerns regarding the accuracy and correctness of the version to be shown.

It further states the following:

“This is to establish if there are indeed any issues which may prejudice her rights, failing which, an urgent application will be brought in the High Court of South Africa, including but not limited to interim interdictory relief to stop the streaming of the documentary series and any other material related to it,” Magudumana’s lawyers said in the letter of demand.

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The docuseries is set to tell the unbelievable true story of convicted murderer Thabo Bester, who faked his death by burning in his cell and escaped prison for a year.

Trial date

The trial of Bester, Magudumana and their co-accused was supposed to begin in the Free State High Court at the end of February but has been postponed to 5 June 2024.

What you need to know about Thabo Bester Case

• Thabo Bester escaped Bloemfontein Maximum Security Prison and was on the run for almost a year before being caught.
• Bester and Dr Nandipha Magudumana were apprehended in Arusha, Tanzania, on 8 April 2023 and brought back to South Africa.
• The trial date for Bester, Magudumana and their co-accused has been set for 5 June 2024.

Netizens keen on documentary series

People across the country are interested in the documentary and want it to be released.

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Here are some of the reactions:

@Zolisa Nongqungaa shared:

"I thought she escaped lawful custody or something interesting."

@Aaron Lear Mwafulirwa joked:

"When Ramaphosa will join them."

@Bro Mish said:

"She must relax. We already have the documentaries that we compiled from the news."

@Sally Arends voiced:

"We want to see this."

@Hauza Mö commented:

"So koraore the docu was made without their approval... here I thought they finally decided to tell us something coz we've been waiting for bail ever since."

Showmax’s Tracking Thabo Bester focuses on the lovebirds

In a similar story, Briefly News reported that local streaming company Showmax will air a new show focusing on Thabo Bester and Dr Nandipha Magudumana.

The show is titled Tracking Thabo Bester and will air on the platform on 15 March 2024. Mzansi is here for the show, with some expressing their approval of Showmax doing the story instead of Netflix.

Source: Briefly News