A timeline: How Dr Nandipha met Thabo Bester

Dr Nandipha Magudumana made headlines due to her alleged relationship with fugitive Thabo Bester, also known as the ‘Facebook Rapist.’ The revelations of their brazen acts have kept South Africans on the edge of their seats. Who is Dr Nandi and how did she end up being the Bonnie to Bester’s Clyde?

Click on the video find out more about her.

Dr Nandipha Magudumana’s Timeline: How she met Thabo Bester

• 2006:
  • She met Thabo Bester while she was studying at Wits University. It is alleged that Bester was running a modelling and promotions agency, and Nandipha was one of the agency’s promo girls.
• 2011:
  • She lost contact with Bester.
• 2013:
  • Dr Nandipha graduated from Wits University.
  • She holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Biomedical Sciences, a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery.
  • She got married to Dr Mkhuseli Magudumana.
• 2014-2015:
  • Dr Nandipha worked in Edenvale Hospital
• 2016-2017:
  • She worked at the Far East Rand Hospital.
  • She opened Optimum Medical Solutions.
  • She began reaching out to Bester who was in prison and began visiting him.
• 2018:
  • She earned a spot in the Mail and Guardian’s Youth South African list.
• 2020:
  • In an affidavit Dr Nandipha stated that she got engaged to Bester.
• 2021:
  • In May the Health Professions Council of South Africa suspended Dr Nandipha from practicing as a doctor.
  • Bester and Dr Nandipha allegedly founded a property renovation company Arum Properties.
• 2022:
  • On 3 May Bester was declared dead at the Mangaung Correctional facility.
  • On 6 May the body alleged to be that of Thabo Bester was collected from the state morgue by Dr Nandipha, who claimed to be his customary wife. She took the body to a mortuary in Soweto, from where it was confiscated.
  • On 19 May she approached the Gauteng High Court requesting the body be returned to her.
  • In June Dr Nandipha was seen with Thabo Bester at Woolworths in Sandton City and photos of them were taken.
  • In August Arum Properties hosted a Women in Property brunch in the Hyde Park Dr Nandipha was renting
• 2023:
  • On 16 March Groundup reported that Bester was seen shopping in Sandton in June 2022 together with Dr Nandipha’s daughter and a person who had their back to the camera who appeared to be Dr Nandipha.
  • On 21 March it was reported that Dr Nandipha and Thabo Bester had fled the Hyde Park mansion.
  • She announced via an Instagram post that she would be opening her practice on 29 March.
  • On 29 March Dr Nandipha’s father confirmed to ENCA that she was in fact, in hiding.