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By Faizel Patel

Senior Digital Journalist


Thabo Bester: G4S security guard to appear in court

The 51-year-old man was handcuffed on Tuesday, 18 April 2023, at the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein.


As the net closes in on suspects involved in the escape of the notorious Facebook rapist Thabo Bester, a G4S security guard is expected to appear in court for his role in the whole saga.

The 51-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday, 18 April 2023, at the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein.

Arrests

So far, five people including the father of Bester’s accomplice and girlfriend Dr Nandipha Magadumana, have been arrested for assisting the convicted rapist and murderer escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC).

Magudumana and three other suspects linked to Bester’s audacious prison break appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning.

One of the suspects is Zolile Sekeleni, who is Magudumana’s father and former G4S employee.

Sekeleni, together with former G4S employee, Senohe Matsoara, and camera installer, Teboho Lipholo, appeared briefly in court on charges of assisting an inmate to escape from lawful custody, defeating the ends of justice, and fraud.

Cele on investigations

Last week, Police Minister Bheki Cele said police would leave “no stone unturned” until all those who were implicated in the audacious escape of Bester were brought to book.

Cele said there was no doubt more arrests would follow.

“What has become very clear here is that the investigation will have to go much deeper, much higher and sideways. Everything is going to be investigated, there’ll be no stone left unturned.

“And we believed by the look of things, that many, many people will have to answer on this matter,” Cele said.

ALSO READ: WATCH: ‘Many people will have to answer for Thabo Bester’s escape’ – Cele

Dr Pashy

Meanwhile, The Citizen on Saturday learnt that Dr Mmereka Patience Martha Ntshani, also known as Dr Pashy, presented herself for questioning following the arrest of Bester and Magudumana.

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi on Friday confirmed that two of Dr Pashy’s passports was found in the possession of Magudumana during her arrest.

According to a Tanzanian source, the travel documents were found in Dr Nandipha’s luggage when the couple was arrested approximately 10km from the Kenyan border.

According to another source, Dr Pashy was questioned by police about Bester and Magudumana.

“She provided a statement and released,” the source said.

Bester and Magudumana arrest

Bester and Magudumana were apprehended in Arusha, Tanzania, in April and extradited to South Africa on a private jet to stand trial.

Bester faked his own death with Magudumana’s help to facilitate an audacious prison break from the MCC in May last year.

ALSO READ: Dr Pashy questioned about Thabo Bester and Dr Nandipha Magudumana

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