She said it is embarrassing that a convicted criminal, who was serving a life term of 75 years in jail for murder and rape, escaped from lawful custody. She said the South African Cabinet has instructed law enforcement agencies to ensure Bester is recaptured as soon as possible and also to make sure that all who aided and assisted him in his escape, face the consequences. 

Ntshavenhi said the government is serious about its responsibility to make sure convicted criminals serve their term in jail and that those who are victims feel justice has been served.

“That’s why the Cabinet has directed the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to ensure that they fast-track the takeover of those correctional facilities. You will recall Thabo Bester, who is a fugitive, escaped from a correctional centre operated by G4S. We have instructed that the two centres operated by private companies must be taken over as speedily as possible,” Ntshavenhi added.

On Thursday, the national commissioner Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale announced that the contract between the multi-national security company G4S and the DCS has been referred for a legal opinion. This follows the escape of the notorious Facebook rapist from the private prison in Mangaung.

Pressure is mounting on the department to terminate the contract with G4S after the controversial escape of the notorious rapist and murder convict Bester.

ALSO READ – Thabo Bester saga: DCS refers G4S contract for legal opinion

Bester allegedly lived the high life in Johannesburg after escaping from the Mangaung prison in May 2022. He staged a well-calculated fire death in his cell.

Thobakgale on Thursday held a press briefing in Bloemfontein to give the latest on the Bester saga. He said G4S has not conceded that the body found in cell 35 was not the body of Thabo Bester.

"When compounded with the post-mortem and DNA sequences results, it becomes vividly clear that, as Correctional Services, we are dealing with a well-calculated and organised escape debacle. Hence, the South African Police Services (SAPS) continue to investigate this matter because it has elements of criminality. Findings of the investigation report clearly reveal that Thabo Bester was assisted to escape from lawful custody on 3 May 2022, yet the contractor maintains that he died in his cell. This is contrary to the overwhelming scientific evidence available.

Greatly worrying is the fact that a private vehicle was allowed inside the facility without a gate pass on the day of the escape, possibly carrying an unknown body that was burned beyond recognition. This talks to a facility that has compromised its security systems beyond any reasonable doubt. Tempering with surveillance cameras points to a failed monitoring system, deliberately orchestrated to conceal crucial evidence and individuals who aided Bester to escape. "The tempering of the security systems by G4S is also a failure to guarantee the safe custody of inmates and a breach in terms of the responsibility allocated to the contractor".

The security company has for the past few years grabbed headlines following a variety of incidents inside the facility and outside its premises.

In December 2022, an inmate at this Mangaung Correctional Centre – who was under the guard of the security company – escaped from the Universitas Academic Hospital. Chris Potgieter escaped from the hospital on Tuesday 27 December where he had been receiving medical attention under guard.

He was later re-arrested. The spokesperson for DCS, Singabakho Nxumalo, told OFM News that Potgieter was re-arrested on the evening of Wednesday 28 December. According to a source, Potgieter was re-arrested by members of the South African Police Services (SAPS) in Koffiefontein.

Nxumalo said an investigation has thus been instituted to ascertain what happened and how Potgieter escaped on the said day. 

ALSO READ: Mangaung inmate re-arrested after escaping from hospital

In 2021, police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele revealed that a 26-year-old man was stabbed multiple times with a sharp object by other inmates.

ALSO READ: Correctional Services probe death of Mangaung inmate

With the Thabo Bester saga, different roleplays suggest that the saga has now put the security company in a tight spot with the department as many continue to call for the scrapping of its contract. It’s understood that the contract between the department and G4S is said to end in 2026. 

It’s also understood that three G4S officials have been suspended pending further investigations into the Bester saga.

OFM News