By Marecia Damons, Daniel Steyn and Becker Semela, GroundUp
The convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester, who is being prosecuted together with eight co-accused for his escape from prison, appeared in court again on Tuesday.
Bester appeared in court online at the Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria.
His legal representative, adv. Jeremiah Pela, asked the court that he and Tsireledzo Ndou withdraw from the case as they themselves face criminal charges. Newzroom Africa reports that Ndou is being prosecuted for attempted rape and assault, while Pela is facing charges of corruption.
Bester’s new counsel will be Kabelo Matee.
State Prosecutor Sello Matlhoko said during the appearance in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court that three more arrests are expected to be made.
According to Matlhoko, mobile phone records and bank statements are still being analyzed and the affidavits still need to be taken from two witnesses before the arrests can be made.
Those who are currently being prosecuted for their alleged involvement in Bester’s escape from Mangaung Prison last year include Bester’s friend Dr. Nandipha Magudumana; her father, Zolile Sekeleni; former Mangaung Prison employees, Senohe Matsoara, Monteyani Masukela, Tieho Makhotsa and Nastassja Jansen; and Teboho Lipholo, a former employee of the CCTV service provider Integriton Security Solutions. A ninth accused, Zanda Moyo, was added to the list last week.
Sekeleni’s legal representative asked the court if his client, who is currently released on bail, could be excused from the next court appearance because he lives very far from the court.
The state did not oppose the request, but Magistrate Mohlolo Khabisi nevertheless dismissed the request.
Jansen was also released on bail, while the other accused remain in custody.
The case was adjourned until Tuesday, August 8 for further investigation.
While the case was being heard, a few former G4S employees marched to Mangaung prison. The protesters said they wanted the Department of Correctional Services to hold the G4S management accountable for the escape as the warden of the prison.
The protesters further demanded that the contract with G4S be terminated quickly so that the prison can be fully in the department’s hands again.
Morui Mphou, organizer of the protest and former worker, said G4S failed to accept responsibility for its failures in the Thabo Bester escape case and in other security incidents at the prison.
The group prepared a memorandum to hand over to one of the department’s representatives, but no one was at the prison to receive it.
- This post is originally on GroundUp published and shared with permission on RNews.
