Why is Nandipha Magudumana fighting Netflix over her father?

Nandipha Magudumana is reportedly distressed after discovering her father is featured in an upcoming Netflix documentary about her relationship with Thabo Bester and his notorious prison escape. According to her legal team, she is concerned that the documentary could portray her family unfairly and infringe on her personal and professional reputation.

Magudumana has instructed her lawyers to file urgent court papers to prevent her father, Zolile Sekeleni, from appearing in the series if a private agreement with the production team cannot be reached. Sekeleni is also accused of allegedly assisting Bester during his escape, which adds to the sensitivity of his inclusion in the documentary. The legal action reflects Magudumana’s effort to protect both her family’s privacy and the integrity of ongoing court proceedings.

This legal move follows similar actions taken by Thabo Bester, who recently approached the Pretoria High Court seeking to interdict Netflix from releasing the documentary Beauty and the Bester. Bester claims the documentary infringes on his constitutional rights, including the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, the right to a fair trial, and the protection of his dignity. He argues that the content of the trailer and promotional materials portrays him as guilty before any verdict has been reached.

Netflix has already released a trailer for the documentary, which is set to premiere on 12 September 2025. The docuseries explores Bester’s criminal history, his dramatic prison escape, and his relationship with Magudumana. Legal representatives for Bester contend that the documentary includes content that is both defamatory and prejudicial, and that Netflix did not seek their consent before production continued.

Previously, both Bester and Magudumana attempted to block Showmax’s Tracking Thabo Bester, citing similar concerns about the potential impact on their ongoing legal proceedings. However, the court dismissed that application. In the current case, Bester’s lawyers sent a formal request to Netflix to remove the trailer and halt distribution of the documentary, but there has been no response. This lack of engagement has prompted the legal team to escalate the matter to court.

Magudumana’s attorney emphasised that the documentary is “distressing and potentially harmful,” not only to Magudumana herself but also to her family. The attorney highlighted the risk of reputational damage, invasion of privacy, and the potential prejudice to ongoing legal proceedings in the Bloemfontein High Court. With only days left before the documentary’s scheduled release, the outcome of the court’s decision could significantly affect whether Netflix will be allowed to broadcast the series in its current form.

The situation underscores the delicate balance between public interest in high-profile criminal cases and the legal rights of individuals involved. Both Bester and Magudumana appear determined to assert control over the narrative of their lives, raising broader questions about media responsibility and ethical reporting in South Africa.