Lawyers representing disgraced celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana have firmly denied claims that she received direct payment for her appearance in a newly released Netflix true-crime documentary, which chronicles her dramatic escape with convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester.
The documentary, which premiered globally this month, has reignited public debate over whether individuals accused or convicted of crimes should profit from their notoriety.
In a statement issued on Friday, Magudumana’s legal team clarified that “no direct payment was made to our client by Netflix or any affiliated production companies.” They added that her participation was “strictly through legal consent and under advisement, with no financial gain involved.”
Speculation about Magudumana’s potential earnings intensified after media reports alleged that she may have negotiated a deal while in custody. The Department of Correctional Services has since launched an internal inquiry to determine whether any rules were breached.
Magudumana, currently awaiting trial in connection with aiding Bester’s elaborate escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in 2022, remains in custody. She faces multiple charges, including fraud, corruption, and defeating the ends of justice.
Legal analysts note that South African law does not explicitly prohibit media companies from interviewing or portraying accused individuals, but any profits derived from such engagements may be subject to forfeiture under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
Netflix has not commented on the financial terms of the production but maintains that the documentary is “a work of public interest and investigative journalism.”
As public scrutiny grows, Magudumana’s legal team insists her rights remain protected and any suggestion of profit is “misleading and defamatory.”