Court proceedings to shed more light on Thabo Bester escape

Thabo Bester and the eight individuals accused of helping him escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC) will return to the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 20 June. The matter was postponed for further investigation, and another suspect was arrested during this period.

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BESTER AND CO RETURN TO COURT

Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester is expected to appear virtually again from the Kgosi Mapuru II prison in Pretoria, while the other accused, including his lover Nandipha Magudumana, are expected to be physically present.

More details about the escape are expected to be revealed on Tuesday. Five of the accused are linked to the security company G4S, which managed the prison at the time of Bester’s escape. They are Senohe Matsoara, Teboho Lipholo, Motanyane Masukela, Tieho Frans Makhotsa and Natassja Jansen.

READ: Bester’s escape: A look at the charges against the eight suspects

NINTH SUSPECT ARRESTED

Zanda Moyo, 31, was arrested in Johannesburg last week and made his first court appearance seven days ago. He is charged with aiding and abetting a convict, harbouring an escaped convict, violating a body and fraud – many of the accused face the exact charges.

Sekeleni and Jansen are the only two accused to be granted bail. Moyo and Magudumana have yet to apply, while Matsoara, Lipholo, Masukela and Makhotsa’s applications were unsuccessful.

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Magudumana recently attempted to have her arrest in Arusha, Tanzania, declared illegal in the Bloemfontein High Court. The case was dismissed with costs. However, her lawyers have indicated they will be appealing the outcome.

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