All five accused have disposed of their written affidavit through their defence lawyers Thursday morning during the bail application at the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court. The suspects, who are alleged to have aided and abetted the Facebook rapist and murder convict Thabo Bester, say they are innocent until proven guilty. 

Three former workers from the British security company G4S who were dismissed from the company, are among those who are applying for bail. They allege that the dismissal from G4S has nothing to do with the charges in the Bester case but for contravening or misconduct against company policies. 

State prosecutor, Sello Matlhoko, has called a state witness from the SAPS Free State provincial organised crime to give testimony in the bail application. This is because the state is opposing bail against the suspects citing serious charges against them. The witness said Senohe Matsoara was dismissed due to his involvement in the Bester escape. Earlier Bester's girlfriend, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, reserved her right to apply for bail today.

Bester escaped from lawful custody in May 2022 and had a lavish lifestyle in Johannesburg. Following the exposure of his prison break he then fled to Tanzania where he was arrested alongside Magudumana in April.

He is set to appear in court on 16 May 2023 alongside Magudumana and her father, Zolile Sekeleni, who is out on R10 000 bail.

So far eight people, including Bester who escaped from lawful custody after staging a fire in his cell 35, have been arrested.

Since the matter of Bester’s escape from prison came to light, G4S has dismissed three employees and suspended seven others following their internal investigations. So far, the three dismissed officials have all been arrested – including Matsoara, a woman, Nastassja Jansen (35), and a man, Tieho Frans Makhotsa (51), who worked as operators in the control room.

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.

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.

The officials revealed that Matsoara, who was dismissed on 29 September 2022, could not explain how some of the accused might have been involved in the escape.

The two officials who were arrested by the Free State police on Monday were dismissed by G4S in December 2022 and January 2023 respectively.

OFM News