Accused 11 Thabang Joel Makhetha, and 12 Moeketsi Ramolula will appear before the court for the third time since their arrest on Monday (26/6) for their alleged involvement in the Thabo Bester escape saga.

The state, through the prosecutor Sello Matlhoko, has since revealed that it is opposing bail against the suspects.

However, on Monday (3/7)  Matlhoko told Magistrate Estelle de Lange the state was not opposed to Thabang Mier being released on R10 000 bail. He also asked that strict bail conditions should be set for him. Mier, a G4S employee, faces one charge – count 8 – which is a Schedule 1 offence.  Ramolula and Makhethe face a Schedule 5 offence and the state opposes their bail.

On Wednesday (5/7), Free State High Court judge Joseph Mhlambi released accused 1 Senohe Matsoara, accused 3 Teboho James Lipholo and accused 7 Tieho Frans Makhotsa on bail of R10 000. Judge Mhlambi overturned Magistrate Mohlolo Khabisi's decision to deny the accused bail.

So far, twelve people have been arrested for allegedly aiding Bester to escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre on 3 May 2022.

Six of the accused, including Nandipha Magudumana's father Zolile Sekeleni, Nastassja Jansen, Matsoara, Lipholo, Makhotsa and Mier have all been granted R10 000 bail.

The accused in the matter include accused number 1 Matsoara, 2 Sekeleni, 3 Lipholo, 4 Magudumana, 5 Bester, 6 Masukela, 7 Makhotsa, 8 Jansen, and 9 Zanda Moyo.

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

JOINT STATEMENT ON THE ARREST OF THABO BESTER
The Minister of Police and the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, can confirm that escapee Mr Thabo Bester with his accomplice Dr Nandipha Maguduma along with a Mozambican national have been arrested in Tanzania late last… pic.twitter.com/hhChx4FI4Y

— Carte Blanche (@carteblanchetv) April 8, 2023

Bester and Magudumana were arrested in Tanzania. It's said that after Bester escaped from G4S, he 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.

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