Motice alleged that guards would find noodles, cereal and cellphones in Bester’s cell. “We would confiscate whatever item he was not supposed to be in possession of, then the next time we search we would find the same item we confiscated. We would not understand how he received the items again,” he said. 

He explained that when a search is conducted, emergency support team (EST) members have to be present, however, sometimes a security supervisor and intelligence officer would conduct a search in Bester’s cell at night without an EST member present. “You would ask, why was this done?” Motice added.

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Motice’s comments form part of a memorandum given to G4S HR and special projects director, Stephen Page, on Tuesday. Morui Mphou, a former G4S employee who organised a march to Mangaung Correctional Centre to hold the security company accountable for Bester’s escape, said he is surprised that G4S was sent to receive the memorandum on behalf of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). “The memorandum addresses DCS. They were sent the notice of the march a while ago. It is surprising that they decided not to send anyone from the department to receive the memorandum.”

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In the memorandum, the former employees request a formal enquiry into preferential treatment and negligence in the prison.

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