Thabo Bester saga: One former G4 employee granted bail
One of the three G4S employees recently arrested for having a hand in Thabo Bester’s escape from prison was granted bail in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 3 July. ONE GRANTED BAIL Thabang Mier, Joel Makhetha and Moeketsi Ramolula – accused numbers 10, 11 and 12 in the Bester escape case made their second court appearance […]
One of the three G4S employees recently arrested for having a hand in Thabo Bester’s escape from prison was granted bail in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 3 July.
ONE GRANTED BAIL
Thabang Mier, Joel Makhetha and Moeketsi Ramolula – accused numbers 10, 11 and 12 in the Bester escape case made their second court appearance following their arrest last week.
Mier, who faced a schedule one charge of aiding an inmate’s escape, was granted R10 000 bail on Monday. He was ordered to surrender his passport, not to contact witnesses, and not to leave Bloemfontein without informing the investigating officer.
Mier is the third accused in the Bester escape to be granted bail. He is due back in court on 8 August, when all the accused will appear.
The State intends to oppose the bail applications of Makhetha and Ramolula – the pair face schedule five charges, including violating a body, corruption, and aiding an inmate’s escape. The bail hearing is expected to be heard on Tuesday, 11 July.
Last week GroundUp reported that Mier’s family said his mother was hospitalised due to the shock of his arrest.
Bester escaped from the G4S-managed Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC) in May 2022 and allegedly lived large in a Johannesburg mansion.
He and his partner, celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana, fled the country earlier this year once police launched a manhunt for the man who was initially thought to be dead.
The couple and a Mozambican man, who allegedly helped them cross borders, were arrested in Arusha, Tanzania, on 8 April.
Before Bester and Magudumana were arrested, Senohe Matsoara – a former G4S MCC supervisor – and Zolile Cornelius Sekeleni – Nandipha’s father, were arrested.
The police have continued to rack up arrests and repeat that more may follow. Thus far, eight of the 12 suspects are linked to G4S.
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WHO ARE THE 12 SUSPECTS IN THE THABO BESTER ESCAPE CASE?
- Accused 1: Senohe Matsoara
- Accused 2: Zolile Cornelius Sekeleni (bail)
- Accused 3: Teboho Lipholo
- Accused 4: Nandipha Magudumana
- Accused 5: Thabo Bester
- Accused 6: Motanyane Masukela
- Accused 7: Tieho Frans Makhotsa
- Accused 8: Nastassja Jansen (bail)
- Accused 9: Zanda Moyo
- Accused 10: Thabang Mier (bail)
- Accused 11: Joel Makhetha
- Accused 12: Moeketsi Ramolula