Dr Nandipha Magudumana is back in the spotlight. In a dramatic court hearing, lawyers revealed she was paid for her role in Netflix’s upcoming documentary, Beauty and the Bester. The revelation undermines her urgent application to block the film’s release, scheduled for 12 September 2025.
This legal clash highlights the delicate balance between freedom of expression and the constitutional rights of accused individuals in South Africa.
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Magudumana’s Court Bid Explained
Magudumana, alongside convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester, filed an urgent interdict at the Gauteng High Court. The pair argued the Netflix documentary contains inaccurate, defamatory, and prejudicial claims.
Her legal team insisted the release would infringe on her rights to dignity, privacy, and a fair trial. Magudumana claimed the documentary’s release would prejudice her ahead of her criminal trial set for November 2025.
Court Hears Magudumana Was Paid
In court, however, Netflix’s legal representatives pointed to a commercial agreement between Magudumana and the production company, Storyscope.
Advocate Lerato Moela, appearing for Netflix, explained:
“There is a commercial agreement between Ms Nandipha Magudumana and Storyscope… she has waived the right to interdict the documentary.”
This means she not only received payment but also agreed to licensing terms for archive material. As a result, the court heard she cannot legally block the film.
Netflix’s Defence: Public Interest and Freedom of Expression
Netflix argued the documentary draws on information already in the public domain. Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, representing the streaming giant, emphasised that the series is built on court records, journalistic investigations, and archive footage.
He told the court:
“It is unacceptable for her, at the last minute, to turn around and say, ‘I don’t know what you were doing.’”
This position reflects the South African judiciary’s consistent defence of press freedom. Netflix maintains there is no legal basis for her to stop the documentary’s release.
Why Magudumana and Bester Object to Beauty and the Bester
Magudumana and Bester have criticised the documentary as “riddled with falsehoods” and selectively edited to portray them negatively. Their lawyers argue the series could bias potential jurors and damage their fair trial rights.
In a similar case earlier this year, the Johannesburg High Court dismissed their attempt to block Tracking Thabo Bester, a Showmax docuseries. Judge Stuart Wilson then remarked:
“There is no right in law to pre-publication approval where a public figure is the object of a media piece.”
That precedent suggests their latest attempt may face the same legal fate.
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The Broader Context: South Africa’s Public Interest
The Bester-Magudumana saga is one of the most widely followed crime stories in South Africa. Public interest in how Bester escaped from Mangaung Prison, allegedly with Magudumana’s help, has fuelled intense media coverage.
The upcoming Netflix documentary promises to expand this narrative globally. Analysts argue it raises important questions about prison security, corruption, and gender dynamics in crime partnerships.
What Happens Next
The urgent interdict hearing was set down for 9 September 2025, just days before the film’s global release. Meanwhile, Magudumana and Bester’s criminal trial is scheduled to begin on 10 November 2025 in Bloemfontein and is expected to run until March 2026.
Given the prior court stance in similar matters, legal experts predict Magudumana may struggle to stop the release of Beauty and the Bester.
A Test of Rights and Media Freedom
The unfolding court battle underscores the tension between personal rights and freedom of expression. While Nandipha claims harm, Netflix argues the public’s right to know outweighs her concerns.
As the release date draws near, South Africans are watching to see whether the courts will again uphold media freedom or side with Dr Nandipha.
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