Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirms they arrived this morning.

Bester was serving a life sentence at the Mangaung Prison in Bloemfontein before his infamous escape in May 2022. 

He allegedly lived the high life in Johannesburg in the wake of his escape, after reportedly staging his death in a well-calculated fire in his cell where a charred body of an unknown person was found.

BREAKING NEWS: #ThaboBester and #DrNandiphaMagudumana are expected to land in South Africa in the early hours of the morning. And now the real circus will begin. pic.twitter.com/pODjIbLYGD

— Mzilikazi wa Afrika (@IamMzilikazi) April 12, 2023

Thus far four people, including Magudumama's father, and a former G4S security guard, among others, have been arrested for their alleged role in the Bester escape.

Two appeared in court on Tuesday and were remanded in custody pending a formal bail hearing.

ALSO READ - Thabo Bester's escape: More suspects arrested

Another suspect – a 44-year-old man – will appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Thursday to face charges of aiding and abetting a convicted prisoner in escaping from lawful custody, defeating the ends of justice, as well as violation of a dead body.

On Thursday, police minister Bheki Cele and minister of Justice and Correctional Services (JCS), Ronald Lamola, will address the nation on the Bester arrest.

OFM News