This is the second time Monica Matsie, the mother of Bereng, has been hospitalised since the news of her son was made public. She was first hospitalised in April 2023 and also days before the bail judgment on Monday 29 May 2023. 

Meanwhile, Bereng’s aunt Poppie Bereng told OFM News yesterday that the family was relieved that four suspects were denied bail.

ALSO READ – Breaking News: Four of Bester's co-accused denied bail – VIDEO

Bereng says this is the beginning of justice unfolding for Katlego. 

Yesterday, a group of family and friends gathered outside the court with white candles around Katlego’s poster in a protest against the suspects being possibly released on bail.

In April 2023, OFM News reported that the body was found inside cell 35 at the Mangaung Correctional Centre, under the guard of the British security company G4S, was finally identified as that of Bereng.

The charred body used as a decoy for the Facebook rapist and murderer Thabo Bester's escape on 3 May 2022, was found with blunt force trauma.

This body was brought inside the maximum security prison with a private vehicle. National police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, told OFM News that they can confirm the charred body found in cell 35 has been identified following a direct match with the biological mother of the deceased.

ALSO READ – Breaking News: Charred body in Thabo Bester's cell 35 identified

During the testimony of the state witness Teiho Flyman from the SAPS's provincial organised unit, he said Matsoara and Lipholo have placed the body of Bereng inside cell 35 to allow Bester to escape.

ALSO READ – Bester escape case: Chilling details revealed in Bfn court

The deceased's body was allegedly claimed by Bester's girlfriend Dr Nandipha Magudumana from the National Hospital's mortuary for a fake funeral in Phase 2 in Bloemfontein, where Matsoara got hold of Bereng's body and took it inside the premises of G4S on 29 April.

It's alleged that accused 6, Masukela, who was on duty at the gate that day, failed to search Matsoara's vehicle transporting a television cabinet, behind which Bereng's body was hidden in a bag. He allegedly assisted Matsoara to offload the body and place it inside a workshop.

The body was later put inside a trolley bin and taken by Lipholo to the block called Broadway, where Bester was kept as a prisoner. The other two accused, Jansen and Makhotsa, who were operators in the control room, were also implicated in not following procedure.

“The dead body was [allegedly] taken to the Thusanong Mortuary for the preparation of the burial and the staged funeral was held in phase two where Matsoara got the body from,” the witness told the court.

On Friday 12 May 2023, the witness said Bester paid Matsoara R150 000 whilst Matsoara himself further paid accused 3, Teboho James Lipholo and accused 7 Tieho Makhotsa, R40 000 and R14 000 respectively.

Colonel Flyman said Bester was given a G4S uniform and walked out of the G4S prison in the early hours of 3 May 2022 with Integriton technician Lipholo. A fire was staged inside his cell where the body of Bereng was burnt as a decoy for Bester to escape from lawful custody.

Bester allegedly lived in luxury in Johannesburg. He was arrested in Tanzania along with Magudumana. They were brought back to South Africa on 13 April 2023.

Magudumana was transferred to the Free State where she made her first appearance at the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court. She was remanded in court and remained in custody.

Magudumana has reserved her right to bail application. She has since approached the Free State High Court to fight over her alleged unlawful and unconstitutional arrest.

Eight people have been arrested for the escape and two people are out on bail of R10 000 each. Seven officials linked to the Bester escape have been suspended. It's understood that 23 officials were on duty at the time of Bester's escape.

OFM News