Dr. Nandipha Magudumana and her co-accused are expected to apply for bail in their next appearance. G4S prison warden Senohe Matsoara,  Integritron CCTV technician, Tebogo James Lipholo,  former G4S guards Buti Masukela, Tieho Makhotsa, and Anastassja Jansen  appeared at the Bloemfontein Magistrate Court alongside the doctor, who  wore a bright white hoodie  and styled her fresh braids in a bun, confidently revealing her made up face. She seemed calmer than her previous appearance and even did constant turns to look at the people sitting in the gallery

GATHERING MORE INFO

Court had to adjourned shortly after it had commenced to allow one of the accused to consult with Legal Aid.
When court resumed the  prosecutor told the magistrate that while the state was ready to proceed with formal  bail applications, the addition of new accused required the state to postpone in order to gather information. Their bail application was initially  set down for today and tomorrow but dates had to be changed because of the new accused, arrested on Monday.

CHARGES

They are facing, among others, charges of murder, aiding the escape of a prisoner, and defeating the ends of justice in the daring prison escape of Facebook rapist and murderer Thabo Bester from the  Mangaung Maximum Correctional Centre exactly a year ago. The two additional suspects arrested on Monday who are former G4S employees (a 35 year old female and a 51 year old male) were confirmed to be control room operators.

MATTER POSTPONED

The defence and the state  argued  around dates for the postponement of bail applications. The defence believes it will require more than two days to go over them.  The Magistrate presiding over the matter said it is in the interest of justice and only fair to postpone the bail application to the 11 and 12 May 2023. He said  if more dates needed to be arranged, they would do so.