The state has withdrawn a murder charge against accused number one in the Facebook rapist and murder convict's escape case in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court.

The withdrawal comes after the police recently informed the family of Katlego Bereng Mpholo that his charred body was found inside Thabo Bester's cell. It was used as a decoy for Bester to escape and was found with blunt force trauma to his head. It is understood that the police informed the Bereng family that Katlego was found to have collapsed, taken to hospital, and unfortunately died. The family denies that is what happened. They believe that Katlego, whose body was claimed by Bester's girlfriend Nandipha Magudumana from the government mortuary, was murdered for Bester's escape plans.

Matsoara and Magudumana, suspended G4S guard Buti (Motenyane John) Masukela, Integriton technician Teboho James Lipholo, and two other new suspects appeared in court Wednesday. The state has now withdrawn the murder charges against two suspects. 

It first withdrew the charges of murder against Magudumana's father, Zolile Sekeleni, who was granted bail of R10 000 in his last court appearance.

State prosecutor, Sello Matlhoko, has further asked Magistrate Mahlomola Khabisi to postpone the much-anticipated bail hearing of Magudumana and others. He requested the case to be postponed to 11 and 12 May 2023 due to other pressing matters. This request was not taken lightly by the defence attorneys. 

Defence lawyers Advocate Machini Motloung and Frans Dlamini said there was a need for the case to be handled with a sense of urgency. However,  Khabisi did grant the state and Matlhoko a postponement.

In his ruling today, Magistrate Khabisi said it is in the interest of justice to adjourn the case to 11 and 12 May.

So far, eight people including Bester who escaped from lawful custody on 3 May 2023 after staging a fire in his cell 35, have been arrested.

The two dismissed G4S operators, Nastassja Jansen (35)  and Tieho Frans Makhotsa (51), were arrested on Monday 1 May 2023 at their places of residence and today they appeared alongside the other suspects. They were added to the charge sheet. They also face charges of aiding and abetting an inmate to escape from lawful custody.

Since the matter of Bester’s escape from prison came to light, G4S has dismissed three employees and suspended seven others following their internal investigations. So far, the three dismissed officials have all been arrested – including Matsoara, a woman who worked as an operator in the control room, and a man who also worked there.

During the G4S officials' appearance at the Justice and Correctional Services Portfolio Committee earlier, it was explained how some of the accused might have been involved in Bester's infamous escape in May 2022.

Whilst addressing members of Parliament, the G4S officials said a television cabinet was brought in and according to their investigation, it was under the instruction of Matsoara. 

Matsoara further allegedly moved two employees from their standing positions. He also allegedly left the prison's premises several times and at one point came back 10 minutes before the CCTV worked properly again.

The officials revealed that Matsoara, who was dismissed on 29 September 2022, could not explain how some of the accused might have been involved in the Bester escape.

The two officials who were arrested by the Free State police on Monday were later dismissed by G4S on 6 December 2022 and in January 2023 respectively.

OFM News