Thabo Bester escape: G4S security guard joined in Dr Nandipha’s case

A G4S security guard arrested in connection with ‘Facebook rapist’ Thabo Bester’s escape from prison will remain behind bars until his next court appearance.

Remanded in custody

Buti Masukela briefly appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Thursday morning, and is facing a charge of assisting an inmate to escape and defeating the ends of justice.

According to his legal representation, Masukela has no prior convictions or previous cases.

The suspect’s case has since been postponed to May, where he will join his co-accused in the matter.

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“On this application for him to be joined to this case in terms of Section 157(1) of the Criminal Law Code… sir, you are formally joined to this case,” Magistrate Mohlolo Khabisi said.

“Your case is remanded until 3 and 4 May in the same court for the co-accused and for your possible bail application. You will remain in custody until then.”

The state has indicated that it would oppose Masukela’s release on bail.

Masukela was arrested on Tuesday, at the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein, Free State.

The 51-year-old man is the fifth accused in the Thabo Bester case, together with Dr Nandipha Magudumana, her father Zolile Sekeleni, IT expert Teboho Lipholo and dismissed G4S employee Senohe Matsoara.

Magudumana’s father was granted R10 000 bail and will return to court on 17 May.

Bester also appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court last week, where his case was postponed to 16 May, for further investigations.

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The convicted rapist and murderer abandoned his bid to be released on bail.

Bester was believed to have died in a fire that broke out in his cell at the prison on 3 May 2022.

It, however, emerged that the DNA of the body found in the cell did not match that of Bester, who was convicted in 2012.

Police have since registered a case of murder, which is currently under investigation.

According to the autopsy report, the deceased had died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head, therefore, was already dead prior to the arson incident.

Bester and Magudumana arrest

Bester and Magudumana were arrested in Tanzania on 7 April.

The couple were caught with several passports – containing multiple identities – in their possession.

A Mozambican national, Zakaria Alberto, was also arrested. He was allegedly helping the couple move across African borders in their bid to escape detention.

They travelled from Johannesburg to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; to Zambia and then to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania; before they were nabbed in Arusha.

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