Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester will join his lover Dr Nandipha Magudumana and their co-accused in the dock when they re-appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate court on 8 August 2023. In the last two appearances including today, Bester made a virtual appearance from the Kgoshi Mampuru Correctional Services.

BRIEF APPEARANCE

The nine accused including Bester, Magudumana and her father Xolile Sekeleni made a brief appearance in court this morning. Bester who has appointed a new legal team appeared briefly virtually wearing a white golfer and a stylish blue and white Loui Vuitton crew neck. State prosecutor Sello Matlhoko said the state is of the view that the time given will allow the completion of this investigation. "On that basis, we agreed with the legal team, even of other accused on the date of the 8th of August 2023," Matlhoko said.

MORE ARRESTS EXPECTED

Matlhoko said three more arrested are expected in connection with Bester's escape. "The state still requires two witness statements and we are expecting to add three more suspects in this matter. Police are still busy analysing the cellphones and the bank statements,' he added.

SUSPECTS LIKELY TO FACE MORE CHARGES

The accused's defence confirmed that they are still representing them. Sekeleni's lawyer asked that he be excused from the next appearance because he lives far and there will be another postponement in the next appearance. Magistrate presiding over the case, Mohlolo Khabisi objected and denied Sekeleni's application not to appear in court in August. Accused number nine, Zanda Moyo, the latest suspect to be arrested in the matter, has abandoned his bail application. All the accused face charges of assisting an inmate to escape from lawful custody and the suspects are likely to face more charges. The police said they cannot rule out the possibility of effecting more arrests. Bester, together with his lover Dr Nandipha Magudumana, returned to South Africa in April, after their arrest in Arusha, Tanzania. Bester escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in the Free State in May last year.