Correctional Services debunks Dr Nandipha Magudumana’s pregnancy rumours

Correctional Services debunks Dr Nandipha Magudumana’s pregnancy rumours

Zuko Komisa

• The Department of Correctional Services has officially denied viral social media rumours that Dr Nandipha Magudumana is pregnant.
• DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo labelled the unverified claims as “fake news,” stating that no such confirmation was ever made.
• Dr Magudumana, who is awaiting trial for allegedly aiding Thabo Bester’s escape, remains in custody at Bizzah Makhate Correctional Centre.

South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has officially refuted viral social media claims that high-profile inmate Dr Nandipha Magudumana is pregnant.

The rumours, which have been widely circulated on platforms such as Facebook, falsely alleged that Magudumana, who is being held at Bizzah Makhate Correctional Centre, was four months pregnant.

Some posts even incorrectly attributed the claims to DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo, suggesting a senior male officer had been placed on leave in connection with the supposed pregnancy.

In an official statement, Nxumalo labelled these claims as “fake news,” clarifying that no such information had been confirmed to any media outlet. The DCS spokesperson reiterated that the department’s position is that Magudumana is not pregnant.

Dr Magudumana is currently in custody, facing charges for allegedly aiding the audacious prison escape of convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester in 2022. The false reports appear to have originated from unverified social media posts and have no basis in official information from the Correctional Services department.

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