Whirlwind of fashion replaced by plain blue prison overalls

USING the pavement as her catwalk, Joburg businesswoman Thandi Maqubela turned her Western Cape High Court trial into her own personal fashion show, arriving daily at court dressed in flamboyant ensembles that had passers-by staring.

With her trademark turban tied to perfection, she donned high heels and sunglasses, usually incorporating a dash of African flair into her outfits as she defended herself against allegations that she had killed her husband.

Sometimes she threw a shawl elegantly over one shoulder. At other times she ditched her turban for a hat.

Women could often be seen nudging their friends to look more closely at her designer shoes and handbags, and, at one stage, someone even asked what she would do with them if she ended up in prison.

It was like watching a celebrity arrive at a posh redcarpet event – heads turned, and cameramen and photographers swarmed around her.

In reality, though, there was no red carpet. And the only “invitation” extended to Maqubela was a stern daily warning from Judge John Murphy to appear in court on time the following morning.

From the first day of the trial, held initially in the Cape Town Labour Court, until the matter was wrapped up this week in the Western Cape High Court, Maqubela’s outfits spoke volumes about her style.

But, after being sentenced to imprisonment this week, the only outfits she’s likely to don in future are the blue denim overalls allocated to sentenced female prisoners.

They’ll be a far cry from her usual wardrobe – the bright sunshine yellow coat she wore when she came to Cape Town after her husband’s body was found in his Bantry Bay apartment, or the sombre black skirt suit and magenta headscarf she wore when she was sentenced on Tuesday.