Love after lockup: Who is Nandipha Magudumana’s husband?

Nandipha Magudumana continues to wear her wedding ring – who is she married to, and can he look past her criminal spree with Thabo Bester?

Nandipha Magudumana has continued to portray herself as a married woman who allegedly fell prey to convicted rapist, murdєrer, and fraudster, Thabo Bester. But who is her husband, who stood by during her criminal spree?

Magudumana and Bester are currently facing charges of orchestrating his 2022 prison escape, defrauding the public, and violating multiple bodies. They will appear next for a pre-trial hearing on 18 March 2026.

NANDIPHA MAGUDUMANA WEARS HER WEDDING RING – AGAIN!

Since her 2023 arrest, Nandipha Magudumana has appeared in court wearing her wedding ring.

Despite being romantically linked to convicted criminal Thabo Bester, with whom she has had flirty exchanges in court, the mother-of-two has presented herself as a married woman.

Her husband, Mkhuseli Magudumana, has distanced himself from her and has kept a low public profile.
Nandipha Magudumana wore a wedding ring in another court appearance. Her husband Mkhuseli has distanced himself from her.
Images via X
In recent appearances, Nandipha appeared to be playing the “sympathy card” by reading her Bible, praying, and singing, all while under the watchful eye of clicking cameras.

Months after her arrest, the mom-of-two was in tears when her attorney claimed that Thabo Bester had “forced” her to skip the country with her.

In a letter written during Women’s Month, Nandipha also claimed that she was abused by many men in her life, possibly including Bester.

WHO IS HER HUSBAND?

With all eyes on Nandipha ahead of her trial, many want to know where her other half, Mr Magudumana, is.

Despite being a married woman, the celebrity aesthetics doctor allegedly embarked on an affair with Thabo Bester while he was behind bars for a rape and murdєr conviction in 2012.

At the time, Nandipha was married to Mkhuseli Magudumana, who is a paediatric medical doctor. The former couple shares two daughters together: Ayana and Aziza.

But according to an affidavit, Nandipha claimed she was Bester’s “customary wife.” In a tweet posted following her arrest, former friend Redi Tlhabi claims the couple divorced in 2022. However, conflicting reports claim that Nandipha is still legally married to Mkhuseli Magudumana, who has kept a low profile since her arrest.

In Nandipha’s 2024 bail application, she revealed that she is currently separated from her husband.

In a sworn statement, Nandipha claimed that she met Thabo Bester at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in 2006, where he allegedly studied theology.

Official reports have revealed that Bester only has a grade 7 education.

Nandipha also claimed that she and Bester began dating in 2017, and he paid lobola for her in 2020.

‘I DON’T KNOW THIS NANDIPHA’

In Netflix’s documentary Beauty and the Bester, Nandipha’s brother Nkosinathi Sekeleni confirmed that her husband, Mkhuseli Magudumana, has distanced himself from his former spouse following her criminal spree.

In one episode, Nkosinathi said, “I called her husband and asked, ‘How are you doing? How are the kids doing?” How do you feel?”

“He said he doesn’t know this Nandipha. This is not the Nandipha he married, who is the mother of his kids. Something that he can’t explain got hold of Nandipha.

“All he wishes is for the law to take its course. And at least tell his kids ‘Mommy has got questions to answer”.