Nandipha Magudumana – Thabo Bester’s alleged co-conspirator – has shocked South Africans by hiring a hot-shot advocate Anton Katz, a specialist in international law.
The celebrity aesthetics doctor is attempting to declare her arrest in Tanzania last month “unlawful.”
The matter is currently playing out at the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Thursday, 1 June.
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NANDIPHA HIRES INTERNATIONAL LAW LEGAL EAGLE
To the public’s surprise, Anton Katz revealed he would represent the woman linked to convicted rapist, murderer, and fraudster Thabo Bester.
In May 2022, Bester faked his death and escaped from his cell in the Mangaung Correctional Centre on 3 May, 2022. He did so with the help of former G4S employees, his partner Nandipha and her father, Zolile Cornelius Sekeleni.
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More than a year later, Bester and Nandipha face their day in court over their alleged crimes. However, Nandipha’s lawyer is arguing that she be released based on the state’s unlawful arrest and deportation of her.
According to Katz, police and the Department of Home Affairs flouted several protocols based on international and constitutional law to bring her back.
According to EWN, he told the court: “This [flies] in the face of every single deportation extradition doctrine throughout the world and through centuries and centuries.
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“South Africa will decide whether to send an extradition request, depending on what Tanzanians tell us and if the Tanzanians tell us that we’ll hand over her without an extradition [okay]… if they say we’ve got to bring an extradition request, we bring an extradition request.”
Meanwhile, on social media, South Africans are questioning how Nandipha secured the services of Anton Katz.
And to social media users are questioning if the couple – both nabbed by an SA delegate – are being funded by people in high positions.
@Am_Blujay: “Adv Anton Katz SC doesn’t come cheap, which brings up the question of who is paying for Thabo Bester and Dr Nandipha’s legal teams.”
@mzansishakers: “Dr Nandipha is not playing. Anton Katz SC is a goat when it comes to international law”.
@TrevorMoyz: “Ladies and Gentlemen, the best things in life are not free. Anton Katz SC is one of the best lawyers on the African continent. You need money, not petty cash, to be represented by him. Being poor is not nice. Being wealthy is. He can win this case”.
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WHO IS ANTON KATZ?
Here are a few facts about the man representing Nandipha’s urgent court bid.
- He has an LLB from the University of Cape Town and an LLM (International Law) from Columbia School of Law, New York.
- According to GBCSA, Anton has dealt principally with international and constitutional issues with a particular focus on international criminal law, extradition, and refugee matters.
- Anton is part of a legal team working to finalise the formal extradition of brothers Atul and Rajesh Gupta from the UAE
- According to a tweet by Phumzile van Damme, Anton was also instrumental in taking on British PR firm Bell Pittinger. He has also offered his services to the DA.
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Anton Katz was instrumental in bringing down Bell Pottinger. We travelled to London together and we spent hours and hours preparing for my testimony. He is also behind many of the DA’s victories in the Concourt. He’s good, y’all. The State better have its ducks in a row. 🔥
— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) June 1, 2023