Dr Mmereka ‘Pashy’ Ntshani was dragged into the Dr Nandipha saga after Thabo Bester‘s star-crossed fugitive lover was caught in possession of her passport during the epic arrest in Arusha, Tanzania, on Friday, 7 April 2023.
Dr Pashy clears the air on links to Nandipha Magudumana
In a statement, Dr Pashy, by proxy of her foundation, confirmed she was in the process of obtaining legal counsel over reports that her former friend and business partner, Nandipha Magudumana, was captured in possession of her passport and other identity documents.
According to Dr Pashy, her relationship with the disgraced doctor was limited to a cooperative partnership they shared between her foundation and Vibes Africa Incorporation International, a shell PR company where Magudumana was listed as a sole director.
Moreover, Ntshani downplayed claims that she and the fugitive doctor were friends who mingled outside corporate spaces, as seen in several images that have since surfaced on social media, and vehemently stressed that her acquaintance with Bester’s lover started in 2020 when she was invited as a guest speaker at her foundation’s seminar.
“The event was in line with the Organisation’s sole purpose of inspiring, empowering and uplifting women and children. Dr Pashy Foundation further entered into a PR Management Agreement with Vibes Africa Incorporation International, a company that is wholly owned by Dr Nandipha Magudumana,” the anesthesiologist wrote.
Read Dr Pashy’s full statement below:
Here’s how Dr Nandipha allegedly stole Dr Pashy’s passport
While Dr Pashy has, for the most part, distanced herself from Dr Nandipha, the contents of an affidavit she filed a couple of weeks ago suggest the medical doctors shared a trust that ran deeper than the usual professional acquaintance.
As reported by eNCA reporter Silindelo Masikane, on 27 March 2023, Dr Pashy supplemented her new passport application with an affidavit where she detailed how Dr Nandipha allegedly stole her identity.
According to the anesthesiologist, she was roped into a PR management deal by Magudumana and part of this involved handling all work visa applications, which required her official ID documentation.
A couple of years ago, Dr Pashy planned to spend time in the United States to develop a footprint for her company, Power Women International.
This is where she was introduced to TK Nkwana, who we now know as Thabo Bester’s disguise.
“Mr ‘TK Nkwana’ asked for my documents, fingerprints [and] IDs [and] police clearance certificate so that they can for me a working citizenship (sp). I went to the police station to do the clearance [and] fingerprints for citizenship in the USA,” she wrote.
Soon thereafter, the fugitive couple disappeared without a trace and in their possession were Dr Pashy’s passport and fingerprints, items Dr Nandipha allegedly used to cross borders from South Africa to Tanzania.
“Now they are South Africa’s wanted criminals and are hiding somewhere with my passport and a copy of my fingerprints. I’m writing this to prevent any fraud that might be committed in my name,” Dr Pashy added.
Dr Nandipha and Bester have since been captured and are undergoing preparations to be extradited back to South Africa to face several charges, which include murder and defeating the ends of justice.
On Tuesday, the disgraced doctor’s father, Zolile Sekeleni, appeared in court next to a former G4S employee on arson, fraud, murder and defeating the ends of justice. The duo will return to court on Monday, 17 April 2023 for bail hearings.