ALSO READ: Three suspects added to Bester's escape charge sheet – VIDEO

The suspects will appear for bail information following their arrest on Monday (26/6). 

The three men, who are employees of the British company G4S, were arrested by the Free State police for their alleged involvement in aiding and abetting Thabo Bester to escape from prison on 3 May 2022. 

ALSO READ: Three more suspects arrested in the Bester escape saga

They are accused number 10 Thabo Mier, 11 Thabang Joel Makhetha, and 12 Moeketsi Ramolula. Mier faces a Schedule 1 offence whilst the other co-accused face a Schedule 5 offence. The G4S employees have been remanded in custody until their next court appearance on 3 July 2023.

On Tuesday (27/6), the national police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, said the trio was arrested on Monday at their places of residence at Botshabelo and Bloemfontein in the Free State.

So far, 12 people have been arrested for allegedly aiding Bester to escape from cell 35 in Broadway, at G4S, on 3 May 2022.

The other accused in the matter include accused number 1 Senohe Matsoara, 2 Zolile Sekeleni, 3 Tebohp James Lipholo, 4 Nandipha Magudumana, 5 Bester, 6 Motanyane John Masukela, 7 Teiho Frans Makhotsa, 8 Nastassja Jansen, and 9 Zanda Moyo. 

Only Magudumana and Moyo are yet to apply for bail. Moyo, during his last court appearance, abandoned his right to apply for bail, whilst Magudumana reserved her right to apply for bail in one of her previous appearances.

#ThaboBester Zimbabwean national Zanda Moyo allegedly lived with Bester & #DrNandipha in their multi-million Hyde Park mansion as their driver.

Moyo is suspect no.9 in the escape saga. I unpack what we know about Moyo.

[WATCH]https://t.co/GHseUU38Tw#eNCA pic.twitter.com/eq0gsPYC3q

— Silindelo Masikane (@Sli_Masikane) July 2, 2023

Three of the accused – Matsoara, Lipholo, and Makhotsa – have now approached the Free State High Court to try and overturn Magistrate Mohlolo Khabisi's verdict to deny them bail.

Lawyers representing the accused, including Kagisho Moruri, argued that Magistrate Mohlolo Khabisi errored when he ruled that the applicants were flight risks, that they will interfere with witnesses, and that there will be public outrage if they were to be released on bail. Judge Joseph Mhlambi has reserved his much-anticipated judgment.

ALSO READ: Thabo Bester co-accused: Judgment reserved after appeal against bail refusal

Bester was arrested in Tanzania alongside Magudumama after they allegedly went on the run from the police. It's said that after his escape from G4S, Bester had a lavish lifestyle in Johannesburg. But after being re-arrested in Tanzania, he and his girlfriend were both brought back to South Africa.

Bester was sent to the Kgosi Mampuru Maximum Correctional Centre, while Magudumana was brought to Bloemfontein where she appeared in court on 13 April 2023. She remains in custody in Kroonstad.

The suspects are set to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on 8 August 2023. 

OFM News