WATCH: ‘Many people will have to answer for Thabo Bester’s escape’ – Cele

Police Minister Bheki Cele says police will leave “no stone unturned” until all those who are implicated in the audacious escape of convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester are brought book.

Cele was quizzed by journalists following weekend reports that Bester had multiple visits to luxury hotels outside the Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC) while serving a life sentence for murder.

Watch: Cele said more arrests expected after Thabo Bester’s escape

More arrests

At least five people have been arrested for assisting the Facebook rapist escape from the Mangaung prison, including his girlfriend and accomplice Nandipha Magudumana, her father Zolile Sekeleni, and former G4S employee Senohe Matsoara.

Cele said there is no doubt more arrests will follow.

“What has become very clear here is that the investigation will have to go much deeper, much higher and sideways. Everything is going to be investigated, there’ll be no stone left unturned.

“And we believed by the look of things, that many, many people will have to answer on this matter,” Cele said.

ALSO READ: Thabo Bester and Nandipha Magudumana’s luxury getaways

Passports

On Saturday, The Citizen learnt that Dr Mmereka Patience Martha Ntshani, also known as Dr Pashy, presented herself for questioning following the arrest of Bester and Magudumana.

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi on Friday confirmed that two of Dr Pashy’s passports was found in the possession of Magudumana during her arrest.

According to a Tanzanian source, the travel documents were found in Dr Nandipha’s luggage when the couple was arrested approximately 10km from the Kenyan border.

“The one passport expired in 2022 and the other passport is expiring in 2029. Both were issued to Dr Pashy. They are authentic South African issued passports,” the source said.

Dr Pashy questioned

According to another source, Dr Pashy was questioned about Bester and Magudumana.

“She provided a statement and released,” the source said.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the investigations into Bester and Magudumana are ongoing.

“This is an ongoing investigation, police will time and again question persons of interest or those that have links to the suspects. It’s part of investigations.”

Escape

The so-called lovers have been on the run since photos of Bester and Magudumana shopping for free-range chicken in a Woolworths in Joburg, surfaced online earlier this year.

They were later apprehended in Arusha, Tanzania, earlier in April and extradited to South Africa on a private jet on Thursday morning to stand trial.

Bester faked his own death with Magudumana’s help to facilitate an audacious prison break from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in May last year.

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