Three accused in the Thabo Bester prison escape matter have been granted R10 000 bail each by the Free State High Court on Wednesday. Former G4S official Senohe Matsaora, CCTV operator Teboho Lipholo, and control room operator Tieho Makhotsa appealed their judgment after they were denied bail by the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court in May. They join Dr Nandipha Magudumana's father Xolile Sekeleni, and two G4S employees Nastassja Jansen and Thabo Mier who were also released on R10 000 bail each.

The National Prosecuting Authority Free State regional spokesperson Phaladi Shuping confirmed the three were released on bail. "Yes, they were released on bail of R10,000 each. Our prosecutors are studying the judgment and we will give a response once they have finished," he said. 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. Bester and his 11 co-accused including Magudumana will re-appear in court on 8 August 2023 after their case was postponed for further police investigation. Bester who has been attending court virtually since May will make his physical appearance in August.

The judgment was handed down electronically by circulation to the parties' legal representatives, however, all 12 accused are expected in the dock on the 8th of August. The accused were given conditions that they must report to the Kagisanong police station on Mondays between 6 am and 6 pm, they may not have any contact with any of the witnesses and they were ordered not to leave Bloemfontein without the written permission of the investigating officer.