The spotlight has returned to Mkhuseli Magudumana — the estranged husband of Nandipha Magudumana — after the latter reappeared in court wearing her wedding ring, prompting renewed speculation about the true state of their relationship.
Ring back on, questions resurface
On 19 September 2025, Magudumana once again walked into the Free State High Court alongside her co‑accused, including Thabo Bester. Photographs and video circulating online showed the controversial aesthetician clad in formal court attire — a black suit, a yellow necktie, freshly braided hair, and striking red nails — and, notably, wearing what appears to be her original wedding band.
The reappearance of the ring has triggered social media chatter. For many, it rekindled doubts over whether her separation from Mkhuseli was real, or merely public posturing. The possibility that the couple may have reconciled — or at least are attempting a public facade of unity — is now a subject of renewed interest.
Legal status remains blurry
Despite visible signs to the contrary, public records and past legal filings paint a more complicated picture. According to sources, while some have claimed that the pair divorced in 2022, others assert the divorce was never legally finalised — meaning Nandipha and Mkhuseli remain married in the eyes of the law.
In her 2024 bail application, Nandipha herself described them as separated.
Husband absent from public view — but present in the narrative
Following Magudumana’s arrest for her alleged role in Bester’s dramatic 2022 prison escape, Mkhuseli has gone largely off‑radar. He has not attended court hearings, granted media interviews, or commented publicly — effectively avoiding the glare that has followed his wife.
In the documentary series Beauty and the Bester and earlier in Tracking Thabo Bester, the couple’s private turmoil was laid bare. In one episode, Mkhuseli is quoted as saying:
“I don’t know this Nandi. She is not the same person I married or loved.”
He described how the children last saw their mother when she dropped them off at school in 2023.
Meanwhile, Nandipha’s brother recalled reaching out to Mkhuseli to check on him and the children — only to be met with the same sentiments of bewilderment and concern, and a plea for Nandipha to at least inform her children that she had “questions to answer.”
Court‑room optics and public reaction
Observers have not only focused on the ring but also on how Magudumana’s overall presentation seems meticulously curated — even glamorous. Several outlets have described what some call a “prison glow‑up,” questioning how she manages to maintain polished hair, makeup, nails, and even carry luxury items while in custody.
The fact that a wedding ring — an item often confiscated during arrest — remains on her finger has only deepened mystery and sparked social media speculation about the real status of her marriage.
What this means going forward
As the trial against Nandipha Magudumana and her co‑accused moves forward, the reemergence of her wedding ring in public and court poses serious questions about marital status, family dynamics, and public image management. With Mkhuseli still largely silent and out of public view, the optics raise more questions than they answer.
Whether this is a sign of reconciliation, legal strategy, or simply a carefully orchestrated public spectacle remains unclear — but for now, Mkhuseli’s absence in person contrasts sharply with his increased presence in the narrative.
