The case was previously postponed to 20 June after four suspects were denied bail by Magistrate Mohlolo Khabisi.

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It's not yet clear if Bester, who is kept in custody at the Kgosi Mampuru Maximum Correctional Centre in Pretoria, will appear in court virtually or physically. His girlfriend, Nandipha Magudumana, is, however, expected to make her physical court appearance.

The matter is likely to be postponed for the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to decide on a date as to when to transfer the matter to the Free State High Court. 

So far, nine people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the escape of Bester on 3 May from the Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC), under the guard of the British security company G4S. Bester escaped after he was allegedly aided by accused 1 Senohe Matsoara, accused 2 – and Dr Magudumana's father – Zolile Sekeleni, and accused 3 Teboho James Lipholo, among others. 

The body of a person, now known as Katlego Bereng, was brought into the cells of Broadway on 29 April 2022, five days before it was used as a decoy for Bester to escape.

The body, which was fraudulently claimed from the Bloemfontein-based National Hospital by both accused 4 Dr Magudumana and accused 9 Zanda Moyo, was burnt beyond recognition. This was to make all believe that Bester had committed suicide. It was later found that, in fact, he had been living in the lap of luxury in Johannesburg with Magudumana.

The 31-year-old Zanda Moyo, arrested for aiding Thabo Bester to escape prison, appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court. PHOTO: Lucky Nkuyane

OFM News has also reliably learned that a cell phone Bester used to make money transfers were confiscated by police from an inmate at G4S a few weeks ago and it has since been taken for forensics.

During the bail hearing of five co-accused, an investigating officer in this case, Tieho Flyman, told Magistrate Mohlolo Khabisi that suspects, including Motsoara, Lipholo, and accused 7 Tieho Frans Makhotsa, received thousands of rands instead of millions promised by Bester.

Tom Katlego-Motsepe Nkwana (Bester) made regular payments of R20 000, R25 000, and R30 000 to Matsoara whilst in prison. Matsoara received plus-minus R150 000 from April and after the escape in May 2022.

Tieho Makhotsa, accused 7, was paid R14 000. He first received R10 000 and then R4 000 after Bester's escape in May 2022.

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

Some of the accused, including Matsoara, have been in custody for over two months since their arrest in April 2023.

They face several charges, including aiding and abetting the escape of a prisoner, defeating the ends of justice, arson, and violating a corpse.

Meanwhile, Moyo is also set to continue with his bail application after his recent arrest which took place in Johannesburg. The 31-year-old Zimbabwean was kept in custody after making a stint court appearance.

OFM News