The department of home affairs intends to revoke the passport of celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana, who is accused of helping rapist murderer Thabo Bester escape from prison.
Home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi told a media briefing on Monday morning that Magudumana “no longer deserves to have it”.
“The department of home affairs has obtained legal advice that there are strong legal grounds to revoke the passport of Dr Nandipha Magudumana and that firm action must be taken to that effect,” he said.
Motsoaledi said the director-general would be taking legal steps to revoke the passport.
Magudumana’s passport was issued on February 16 2017 and was due to expire on February 15 2027.
When she was arrested in Tanzania she was found with three passports – two of which belonged to Dr Mmereka Ntshani.
Motsoaledi also said Bester had finally been issued with a South African identity document, which was issued last week, “ending years as an unidentified person”.
“I am aware, by the way, that there are other South Africans from all walks of life who have attained the age of 16 years who never applied for ID cards. I therefore call upon all eligible citizens to apply for identity cards.”
Motsoaledi also addressed the urgent application launched by Magudumana in the Bloemfontein high court to declare her arrest and “abduction” from Tanzania unlawful.
He said officials from his department were part of a multidisciplinary team that visited Tanzania in April to facilitate the “lawful deportation” of Bester and Magudumana back to SA.
He said the director-general had only managed to access Magudumana’s court papers on Sunday afternoon.
“The director general was shocked to discover that the department of home affairs and I as the minister were not cited as respondents in that matter.”
He said this was despite the fact that on May 15 there had been correspondence between the director-general and Magudumana’s lawyers.
“The director-general immediately addressed a letter dated 21 May to her attorneys raising objections to the nonjoinder of the department of home affairs and myself as the minister and demanded that the ill-advised application be removed from the urgent roll.
“The letter corrected the wrong stance adopted by Dr Nandipha Magudumana that she was unlawfully abducted or extradited from the United Republic of Tanzania.
“Dr Nandipha Magudumana and Thabo Bester were declared prohibited immigrants in terms of the immigration laws of Tanzania and were therefore as a matter of law liable to be deported back to the country of origin, which is SA.”
He said the same procedure was followed in respect of the Mozambique national who was with them at the time of their arrest.
'Undeserving' Magudumana to forfeit her SA passport
She had three during her arrest - Motsoaledi
Image: GCIS
The department of home affairs intends to revoke the passport of celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana, who is accused of helping rapist murderer Thabo Bester escape from prison.
Home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi told a media briefing on Monday morning that Magudumana “no longer deserves to have it”.
“The department of home affairs has obtained legal advice that there are strong legal grounds to revoke the passport of Dr Nandipha Magudumana and that firm action must be taken to that effect,” he said.
Motsoaledi said the director-general would be taking legal steps to revoke the passport.
Magudumana’s passport was issued on February 16 2017 and was due to expire on February 15 2027.
When she was arrested in Tanzania she was found with three passports – two of which belonged to Dr Mmereka Ntshani.
Motsoaledi also said Bester had finally been issued with a South African identity document, which was issued last week, “ending years as an unidentified person”.
“I am aware, by the way, that there are other South Africans from all walks of life who have attained the age of 16 years who never applied for ID cards. I therefore call upon all eligible citizens to apply for identity cards.”
Motsoaledi also addressed the urgent application launched by Magudumana in the Bloemfontein high court to declare her arrest and “abduction” from Tanzania unlawful.
He said officials from his department were part of a multidisciplinary team that visited Tanzania in April to facilitate the “lawful deportation” of Bester and Magudumana back to SA.
He said the director-general had only managed to access Magudumana’s court papers on Sunday afternoon.
“The director general was shocked to discover that the department of home affairs and I as the minister were not cited as respondents in that matter.”
He said this was despite the fact that on May 15 there had been correspondence between the director-general and Magudumana’s lawyers.
“The director-general immediately addressed a letter dated 21 May to her attorneys raising objections to the nonjoinder of the department of home affairs and myself as the minister and demanded that the ill-advised application be removed from the urgent roll.
“The letter corrected the wrong stance adopted by Dr Nandipha Magudumana that she was unlawfully abducted or extradited from the United Republic of Tanzania.
“Dr Nandipha Magudumana and Thabo Bester were declared prohibited immigrants in terms of the immigration laws of Tanzania and were therefore as a matter of law liable to be deported back to the country of origin, which is SA.”
He said the same procedure was followed in respect of the Mozambique national who was with them at the time of their arrest.
Nandipha Magudumana says arrest unlawful, demands immediate release
Born at Bara to mom of four, but Thabo Bester was never registered with home affairs
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Related articles
Latest Videos