The South African Police Services' (SAPS) national spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, said the two were arrested over the weekend. The 39–year-old former G4S employee was arrested at his residence in Bloemfontein on Saturday 8 April 2023, while the 65-year-old man was arrested on Friday 7 April 2023 at his home in Port Edward. Both suspects have been charged with aiding and abetting a convicted prisoner to escape from lawful custody. The National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, has welcomed the latest arrests and confirmed that the possibility of more arrests could not be ruled out.

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In other news, the delegation led by the SAPS' Deputy National Commissioner responsible for Policing, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, has arrived in Arusha, Tanzania. The team is currently engaged with their Tanzanian counterparts to finalise all legal processes required towards bringing escapee Bester and his accomplices to justice in South Africa. Bester was arrested in Tanzania over the past weekend with Dr Nandipha Magudumana. It all started in May 2022 when it was reported that Bester committed suicide by setting his cell alight at the Mangaung Correctional Centre. However, it has been recently revealed that it was not Bester’s body in the cell. The autopsy report also revealed that the deceased had died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head and was already dead before the fire broke out.

ALSO READ: Thabo Bester saga: DCS refers G4S contract for legal opinion

A case of murder was registered and is currently under investigation. In addition, a case of escape from lawful custody was also registered following confirmation by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) that Bester was not in their custody. The Mangaung Correctional Centre is owned and operated by a multinational security company, G4S. The national commissioner for DCS, Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale, previously announced that the contract between G4S and DCS has been referred for a legal opinion.

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Pressure is mounting on the department to terminate the contract with G4S after the controversial escape of Bester. Bester allegedly lived a high life in Johannesburg with Magudumana after his escape from prison. 

"It is greatly worrying that a private vehicle was allowed inside the facility without a gate pass on the day of the escape, possibly carrying an unknown body that was burned beyond recognition. This talks to a facility that has compromised its security systems beyond any reasonable doubt. Tempering with surveillance cameras points to a failed monitoring system, deliberately orchestrated to conceal crucial evidence and individuals who aided Bester to escape. The tempering of the security systems by G4S is also a failure to guarantee the safe custody of inmates and a breach in terms of the responsibility allocated to the contractor," said Thobakgale.

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