The cell is in a blind spot and is near an emergency exit.

The British security company G4S appeared before a parliamentary committee to account for the well-executed Bester escape, which has since caused international interest. Bester is said to have first applied for a single cell on 15 April 2022, allegedly in fear for his life but withdrew the application two days later. He, however, again applied on 30 April of the same year and was moved to the aforementioned cell whilst his application or papers were pending approval.

ANC Member of Parliament (MP) Anthea Ramolobeng and DA MP Adv. Glynnis Breytenbach grilled officials from G4S who appeared before the committee on Wednesday.

Ramolobeng demanded to know who approved Bester’s move to cell 35 which another inmate already occupied.

“The report indicates that from 19:39 the camera or the CCTV footage system seized to operate and they resumed operating at 04:10. The incident started to happen at 02:30 or 03:00 and it was not captured because the system was not working. Whilst we were there, an official from Integreon, who operates the machines, was able to take us through and show you can temper with the system,” Ramolobeng added.

However, G4S officials who appeared before the committee said that a report they received indicated that the loss of power was due to dysfunctional camera batteries or the CCTV stopped working.

Bester allegedly lived the high life in Johannesburg after his escape, staging his death in a well-calculated fire in his cell where a charred body of an unknown person was found.

During this briefing, the Mangaung Correctional Centre head, Joseph Monyante, told the committee that Bester had a personal laptop in his cell using it to study. Monyante further indicated that Bester was a registered student at Damelin.

It’s alleged that Bester was moved to cell 35 to avoid movement detection by the cameras close to his cell where he later escaped from. The smoke from the fire was allegedly detected but ignored by officials.

Bester and his girlfriend, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, were arrested by the police in Tanzania recently. His accomplices, including her father and a former G4S security guard, were arrested and appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday 11 April 2023. Bester's alleged accomplices Zolile Sekeleni (65), the father of Magudumana, and former G4S prison guard Senohe Matsoara (39) face five charges including murder, arson, defeating the ends of justice, and fraud, among others.

ALSO READ: Thabo Bester accomplices remanded in custody – VIDEO

During the brief court proceedings in a packed courtroom, the matter was postponed to 17 April 2023 for a formal bail application.

The Magistrate ordered that accused 1, Matsoara, be detained in the Brandfort Correctional Centre whilst the second accused Sekeleni, should be detained at the Bainsvlei Police Station's holding cells at Bloemfontein.

OFM News/Lucky Nkuyane