Dr. Nandipha Magudumana, a well-known doctor who was arrested with her boyfriend who escaped from prison, Thabo Bester, is facing a difficult time when he received the news of his mother’s death, while in prison.
According to the Sunday World newspaper, Mrs. Nokuzola Sikeleni died on Thursday, in Port Shepstone on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal. It is said that Magudumana’s father, Zolile Sikeleni, and his brother, Nkosinathi Sikeleni, revealed that senior officials of the Bizzah Makhate Correctional Services prison in Kroonstad, Free State and social workers informed Nandipha about the death of his mother.
“Nandipha has been informed by the prison authorities and social workers about the passing of our mother. She is trying to accept the loss of her mother, we hope that she will be strong despite the pain. We will also make a request for her to be able to go to her mother’s funeral and we hope that everything we ask for will be done,” said Nkosinathi.
Magudumana’s father said it is sad that his wife died while their child was in custody, adding that the family is busy with funeral preparations.
According to Singabakho Nxumalo, spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), there is a possibility that Magudumana will get time off to attend his mother’s funeral. Nxumalo said DCS helps offenders who have lost a family member by allowing them to apply for temporary release. He explained the legal framework behind such requests: “According to the Correctional Services Act, 1998 (Act No. 111 of 1998), Section 44(1)(a) provides that a convicted offender may, subject to specified conditions, be allowed to leave the correctional facility for a period determined by the National Commissioner for family contact.”
