Police Minister Bheki Cele said the ministry is making inroads into finding the high-level people who helped convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester escape from prison.
Bester escaped from the G4S-run Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC) in Bloemfontein in May 2022, after it was initially believed he had committed suicide by setting himself alight in his cell.
The Facebook rapist and his lover, disgraced doctor Nandipha Magadumana, were arrested on Friday, 7 April, about 10km out of Arusha in Tanzania, after fleeing the hotel they were staying in.
Watch Police Minister Bheki Cele speaking about more arrests in connection with Thabo Bester’s escape
The couple was arrested alongside a Mozambican national identified as Zacharia Alberto, believed to have been the driver assisting them in border crossings during their escape.
Escape plan
Cele said with every arrest, investigators were getting closer to uncovering Bester’s entire plan and all those who were involved in his audacious escape.
“We don’t want to push the team; we want them to find their way up to the level where we all believe that this thing originated. We know it originated with Bester, but Bester could not have dealt with the small fish. At a certain given point, [we’ll] have to get sharks on the matter.”
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G4S employees arrested
On Monday, police arrested two more G4S employees in connection with the escape of Bester.
The former G4S employees were handcuffed by police officers in Bloemfontein.
National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said the duo are expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
“The pair will appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 3 May 2023, on a charge of assisting an inmate to escape from lawful custody and defeating the ends of justice,” Mathe said.
“The possibility of effecting more arrests cannot be ruled out,” Mathe added.
Total arrests
Eight people have so far been arrested in connection with Bester’s escape, including Magudumana, her father – Zolile Sekeleni, and Integritron Integrated Solutions employee – Teboho Lipholo.
ALSO READ: Thabo Bester: More G4S employees arrested in connection with ‘Facebook rapist’ escape
