Thabo Bester brought an urgent application to challenge charges linked to his escape from prison. Earlier this month, the high court in Pretoria dismissed Bester’s urgent application for the second time. 

He had sought to be transferred from the eBongweni Super Maximum Correctional Centre in KwaZulu-Natal to the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in Pretoria

Bester made headlines in May 2022 after escaping from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein by faking his death in a prison cell fire. He was serving a life sentence.

Authorities alleged the escape was orchestrated with the assistance of his girlfriend, Nandipha Magudumana, along with several prison officials and external accomplices.

Central to the case is the body of Katlego Bereng, which was discovered in cell 35 at the Mangaung facility. The body, burnt beyond recognition and showing signs of blunt force trauma, was allegedly used as a decoy to facilitate Bester’s escape on 3 May 2022.

Investigations revealed Bereng’s body was fraudulently claimed from the National Hospital in the Free State capital. Zanda Moyo, a Zimbabwean national and one of the accused, allegedly assisted Magudumana by falsely identifying the body as that of his brother.

During bail proceedings, police official Tieho Flyman testified Bereng’s body had been transported into the prison on 29 April 2022. Accused Senohe Matsoara allegedly brought the body into the facility using a vehicle hired by Magudumana’s father Zolile Sekeleni.

Flyman had told the court Matsoara gained entry without being searched and later placed the body in cell 35 with the help of Teboho James Lipholo. The body was subsequently set alight to stage Bester’s death.

OFM News previously reported the court had also heard during the escape, Bester allegedly donned a G4S uniform and walked out of the facility alongside Lipholo. At the time, the facility was managed by G4S.

Testimony further revealed that Lipholo had allegedly been promised R2.5m for his role but received only R40,000 in two payments.

Investigators later found that the casket believed to contain Bereng’s remains instead held three bags of maize flour, raising questions about the extent of the cover-up.

Those implicated in the case face multiple charges, including aiding and abetting a prison escape, defeating the ends of justice, arson, and violating a corpse.

Luxury

After his escape, Bester reportedly lived in luxury in Johannesburg before being arrested in Tanzania alongside Magudumana. The pair were extradited to South Africa on 13 April 2023.

Magudumana was transferred to the Free State, where she made her first appearance in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court. She has remained in custody since.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg

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