The memorial service is expected to take place at 14:30 in Mahube A Tumelo, Bloemfontein, on Thursday 4 May 2023.

The Katlego (32) went missing in March last year. In April this year, the father of the deceased, Batho Mpholo, revealed on Twitter that the body which was found burnt beyond recognition inside cell 35 in the Mangaung Correctional Centre, managed by the British company G4S, was that of his son. Mpholo later opened cases against the Department of Health, Correctional Services, and G4S. 

It is understood that the police informed the Bereng family that Katlego allegedly collapsed, was taken to hospital, and unfortunately died. The family denies that this is what happened. They believe that Katlego, whose body was claimed by Bester's girlfriend Dr Nandipha Magudumana from the government mortuary, was murdered for Bester's escape plans.

ALSO READ – Bester's cell fire victim: Family yet to receive remains – VIDEOS

A week ago, Free State Health MEC Mathabo Leeto revealed that her department had launched internal investigations on how Katlego’s body was claimed from the government mortuary.

"Heads are going to roll if the investigation finds that procedures were not followed and the body was released (unlawfully). There should be consequences for that. But we must also look at the regulations in place so we don't get the same incident as a result of our own procedure in the department," she said.

Leeto further revealed that there are a lot of unclaimed bodies at the Bloemfontein government mortuary and said that her department has to work closely with Home Affairs and the media to assist in identifying and finding families of unclaimed bodies.

ALSO READ: Free State Health investigates process of claiming bodies

The grandmother of Katlego was admitted to the hospital after viewing the remains of her grandson. She was discharged to support her daughter who is mourning the death of her son. 

The aunt of the deceased, Mantsane Bereng, said the family has not been coping well with the news, especially the manner in which they found out how their son's body was burnt and used for Bester's escape from jail. Mantsane later requested the family to be given space to grieve, despite the matter being of public interest. This after stating that the charred body of Bereng will be laid to rest this coming Sunday.

ALSO READ – Thabo Bester: Bereng family receives remains, asks space to grieve

Yesterday, Bester’s girlfriend, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, and co-accused appeared before the Bloemfontein Magistrate's court, where the state withdrew a murder charge against accused number one in the Facebook rapist and murder convict's escape case. The case was postponed to 11 and 12 May 2023 for a formal bail application.

ALSO READ: Case against Bester's co-accused postponed, murder charge withdrawn

Meanwhile, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) gave G4S 90 days to wrap up its business at the Mangaung Correctional Centre. This after the service provider G4S came into the spotlight for the wrong reasons.

ALSO READ: Prison inmate tortured to death

In 2015, several inmates incarcerated in the Mangaung prison were reported to have died under suspicious circumstances. Ruth Hopkins revealed in a Mail and Guardian article that documents which were recently provided to the Wits Justice Project and eyewitness accounts contain shocking allegations that inmates were tortured before they died, while the prison registered their deaths as either “natural” or “suicide”. More worryingly, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is aware that G4S’ recordkeeping of deaths in custody is not up to standard and that deaths through torture may go undetected. Despite that knowledge, it has not held G4S accountable. 

OFM News