Another G4S guard arrested for helping Thabo Bester escape

A security guard employed by G4S, which runs the Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC) where convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester escaped from, has been arrested.

The 51-year-old man was handcuffed on Tuesday, 18 April 2023, at the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein.

G4S guard arrested

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the security guard is expected to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 20 April 2023.

“He faces charges of assisting an inmate to escape from lawful custody and defeating the ends of justice.”

So far, five people including the father of Dr Nandipha Magadumana, have been arrested for assisting the Facebook rapist escape from the MCC.

ALSO READ: Dr Pashy questioned about Thabo Bester and Dr Nandipha Magudumana

Court

Magudumana and three other suspects linked to Bester’s audacious prison break appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning.

One of the suspects is  Zolile Sekeleni, who is Magudumana’s father and former G4S employee,.

Sekeleni, together with former G4S employee, Senohe Matsoara, and camera installer, Teboho Lipholo, appeared briefly in court on charges of assisting an inmate to escape from lawful custody, defeating the ends of justice, and fraud.

Bail

Magudumana’s father was granted R10 000 bail and is due back in court on 17 May, while Nandipha, Matsoara, and Lipholo will all remain behind bars.

Bester also appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on 14 April.

His case was postponed to 16 May 2023, for further investigations.

Bester abandoned his bid to be released on bail.

Escape and arrest

Thabo Bester and Magudumana arrived back in South Africa on Thursday, after they were caught in Arusha, Tanzania, just 10km away from the Kenyan border, last Wednesday.

The Facebook rapist faked his own death with Magudumana’s help, to facilitate the prison escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC) in the Free State.

ALSO READ: WATCH: ‘We love you, neh’ – Nandipha Magudumana’s family’s message of support