The Thabo Bester prison break case returns to court on Tuesday, 8 August 2023 with 12 suspects due on the docks.
How to watch Thabo Bester prison break case live in South Africa
Proceedings are scheduled to kick off at 10:00. You can tune into the Thabo Bester prison break case live below.
Thabo Bester prison break case: What are the latest updates?
The Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court is set to hear a significant case involving 12 individuals allegedly linked to the escape of convicted rapist and murderer, Thabo Bester.
The accused, including Bester’s lover, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, and individuals associated with G4S, a British multinational private security company, will appear in court on Tuesday.
Thabo Bester was serving a life sentence for the murder of Nomfundo Tiyhulu and multiple charges of rape.
Infamously known as the ‘Facebook rapist,’ he used social media to lure his victims.
In May 2022, the Department of Correctional Services reported Bester’s death in his cell, following a fire that left him with burn wounds.
However, in March 2023, GroundUp reported that Bester had been spotted in Sandton alongside his girlfriend, Magudumana, founder of Optimum Medical Aesthetics.
The couple subsequently fled South Africa and was later arrested in Tanzania. Surprisingly, investigations revealed that the body found in Bester’s cell was not his but that of Katlego Bereng.
Here’s the list of suspects charged in the Bester escape case
The twelve individuals facing charges in connection with the prison break are:
- Senohe Matsoara: Former G4S supervisor who allegedly recruited accomplices and facilitated Bester’s escape.
- Zolile Sekeleni: Dr Magudumana’s father, accused of orchestrating Bester’s escape.
- Teboho Lipholo: A CCTV technician at Mangaung Correctional Centre, accused of disabling cameras during the escape.
- Dr Nandipha Magudumana: Bester’s lover, facing charges related to her role in the escape.
- Thabo Bester: Currently detained at the Kgosi Mampuru prison.
- Buti Masukela: Former G4S security guard allegedly involved in the transport of Bereng’s body into the correctional centre.
- Teiho Makhotsa and Nastassja Jansen: Former G4S control room operators accused of opening the gates during Bester’s escape.
- Zando Moyo: A Zimbabwean national who allegedly assisted Dr Magudumana in obtaining Bereng’s body.
- Joel Maketha, Moeketsi Ramolula, and Thabang Meir: Former G4S officials linked to Bester’s escape.
The accused face charges of aiding in an inmate’s escape and corruption.
So far, ten of them have been granted bail. The court expects at least 18 witnesses to testify during the proceedings.