Dr Nandipha Magudumana, who is accused of helping her boyfriend Thabo Bester escape from prison, was also his undoing after her fingerprint was the clue police needed to identify the person who claimed Katlego Bereng Mpholo‘s corpse from a hospital in Bloemfontein.
Dr Nandipha fingerprint ties her to Katlego Mpholo
As reported by News24, investigators working on determining how Mpholo, a young father of two from Bloemfontein ended up burned beyond recognition inside Cell 35 at Mangaung’s supermax prison, got a huge break when fingerprint analysis on the forms used to claim his body from a hospital in the Free State metro pointed to the disgraced celebrity doctor.
According to police, Magudumana made a concerted effort to smudge all traces of her fingerprints on the form but fortunately, she failed since investigators were still able to pull a readable print.
Police lifted the prints and sent a sample to the Department of Home Affairs, where it was confirmed that the profiles belonged to Mpholo and Magudumana.
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Using the missing case docket filed by Mpholo’s family in early May 2022, as well as DNA analysis, police were able to determine two crucial facts:
- the corpse found in Bester’s cell was, in fact, Mpholo; and
- Magudumana was the person who claimed Mpholo’s body from the hospital.
Details around Mpholo’s death remain sketchy as investigations continue.
The family of Katlego Mpholo is grieving after his body was used as a decoy in convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester’s daring escape. Mpholo’s burnt body was discovered in Bester’s cell after an attempted staged suicide at the Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022.
The forensic pathologist initially delayed releasing Mpholo’s body, adding further pain to the family’s grieving process.
After DNA results confirmed that the charred remains were those of Mpholo, his family was able to identify his body. His nephew, Thapelo Baranye, spoke about the emotional trauma his family experienced during the identification process.
He revealed that no amount of pre-counselling could have prepared them for the sight of Mpholo’s burnt remains.
Baranye went on to say that other family members needed medical attention after seeing the body.
Mpholo’s mother, Monica Matsie, was devastated at the discovery of her son’s remains, saying that she had been to the correctional centre looking for him, only to be told he was not there.
Baranye expressed his family’s feelings of failure, saying they felt let down. The next step for the family is to prepare for Mpholo’s funeral.
