Bester, Dr Nandipha Magudumana and a Mozambican national were arrested in Arusha by Tanzanian authorities on Friday night, said Justice Minister Ronald Lamola during a media briefing on Saturday.

Bester and Magudumana were arrested on immigration charges.

ALSO READ: South African delegation to depart for Tanzania after Thabo Bester's arrest

Bester escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Facility managed by the company G4S in May last year by faking his own death.

Jacaranda FM reports that Sapohr's Golden Miles Bhudu says the organisation remains convinced that Bester's escape was an "inside job".

LEES OOK: Facebook-verkragter bedryf miljoene rande se skelmspul uit tronksel

“In the early days of this botched 'inside job' and escape, we made a modest call that both of them seriously consider, as a form of remorse and atonement, hand themselves over to the law enforcement agencies, and negotiate a plea bargain, and fully co-operate, tell the tale, who else was involved. So that, when justice someday takes its course, in mitigating circumstances, the court be lenient, but that fell on deaf ears.

“Sapohr is tempted to ask a simple question. Where was he going to go and hide? South Africa is a friend of the world, even countries that doesn’t have exchange treaties with South Africa, when arrested there he was going to be sent backpacking to South Africa. Especially when you are on the run for violent crimes and you are not the right colour.”

Gupta brothers extradition 

Bhudu further adds that the organisation is keen to know how the government will approach the extradition of Atul and Rajesh Gupta.

“Sapohr will carefully watch the space, what the Minster of Justice and Correctional Services and the [National Prosecuting Authority] NPA will do to get the Gupta brothers re-apprehended and extradited, and come here to fully account for their heinous deeds."

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has refused South Africa's request to extradite the two corruption-accused brothers, a decision Lamola said the government intends to appeal.