According to the state, Bester and his girlfriend, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, offered to pay the former security supervisor Seneho Matsoara R2.5 million.  

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) also alleges two other suspects – Tieho Frans Makhotsa, who worked at the company's control room, and the Integriton technician, Teboho James Lipholo – were also offered R2.5 million each if they help Bester escape. 

Bester finally escaped from prison on 3 May 2023 after he staged a fire in cell 35 and went on to live the high life in Johannesburg, Gauteng.

The technician was allegedly offered this money by accused 1 in the matter, Matsoara, to disconnect the camera and recording systems of G4S to allow Bester to escape from his prison cell near the emergency exit.

Eight suspects face varying charges, including aiding and abetting a fugitive, defeating the ends of justice, fraud, arson, and violating a dead body. 

According to the state, the accused – including Matsoara, Magudumana's father Zolile Sekeleni, Lipholo, Magudumana and others – obtained a body from the mortuary at the National Hospital, smuggled it inside the cell, and set it alight to stage Bester's escape.

The charred body, which was found inside cell 35 in Broadway at the Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC), was later identified as that of Katlego Bereng Mpholo.

Bereng Mpholo allegedly passed away at the hospital after he collapsed. His body was found with blunt force trauma to his head inside Bester's cell, which was declared as the cause of his death.

The state has since moved to drop the murder charge against Matsoara.

ALSO READ: Case against Bester's co-accused postponed, murder charge withdrawn – VIDEOS

It also recently dropped the murder charges against Sekeleni who is out on a bail of R10 000.

The two dismissed G4S operators, Nastassja Jansen (35)  and Tieho Frans Makhotsa (51), who worked at the G4S control room, were arrested on Monday 1 May 2023 at their places of residence and appeared alongside the other suspects on Wednesday, 3 May 2023.

ALSO READ: Two former G4S employees arrested for Bester's escape

They were added to the charge sheet. They also face charges of aiding and abetting an inmate to escape from lawful custody.

Since the matter of Bester’s escape from prison came to light, G4S has dismissed three employees including Matsoara, Jansen, and Makhotsa, and also suspended seven others following their internal investigations.

During the G4S officials' appearance at the Justice and Correctional Services Portfolio Committee earlier, it was explained how some of the accused might have been involved in Bester's infamous escape in May 2022.

Whilst addressing members of Parliament, the G4S officials said a television cabinet was brought in and according to their investigation, it was under the instruction of Matsoara.

Matsoara further allegedly moved two employees from their standing positions. He also allegedly left the prison's premises several times and at one point came back 10 minutes before the CCTV worked properly again. Bester was moved to cell 35 despite not being approved. His items or cell was never searched.

Bester and Magudumana were arrested by the Tanzanian police in April 2023 and were brought back to South Africa in the early hours of 13 April 2023.

Meanwhile, the bail application for the rest of the accused, who remains in custody, was postponed to 11 and 12 May 2023.

OFM News