Judge Joseph Mhlambi on Wednesday (5/7) granted the trio bail after they petitioned the High Court to overturn the decision of the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court to deny them bail. 

The trio are accused of aiding and abetting Bester to escape from lawful custody at the Mangaung Correctional Centre under the guard of G4S on 3 May 2022.

On Friday (30/6), Bester's co-accused –  Matsoara, Lipholo, and Makhotsa – approached the High Court to try and overturn the bail refusal by the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court.  

In picture is Teiho Makhotsa including other co-accused in the Bester escape saga. Photo: Lucky Nkuyane

Lawyers representing the accused, including Kagisho Moruri, argued that Magistrate Mohlolo Khabisi errored when he ruled that the applicants are flight risks, that they will interfere with witnesses, and that there will be public outrage if they were to be released on bail.

The three co-accused are facing strings of charges in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court, including aiding, abetting, and violating a corpse. Accused 6, Motanyane John Masukela, is not part of those who are appealing their bail refusal at the High Court.

According to the police, Matsoara, Lipholo, and Makhotsa all received thousands of rands for aiding and abetting Bester to escape.

A Free State police officer, attached to the provincial organised crime unit, Tieho Flyman, gave testimony during the bail application. “According to our investigations money was the major factor. A bank statement proved that R30 000 was first paid through the account of Lipholo's wife before the escape,” he said.

Lipholo's wife explained that her husband said the money should be paid into her bank account and that he knew about the money. After the escape, the other R10 000 was transferred from Matsoara's bank account to Lipholo's.

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.

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

So far, 12 people have been arrested for allegedly aiding Bester. The accused in the matter include accused 1 Matsoara, 2 Sekeleni, 3 Lipholo, 4 Magudumana, 5 Bester, 6 Masukela, 7 Makhotsa, 8 Jansen, and 9 Zanda Moyo. They all face varying charges, including the aforementioned charges.

An additional three men, including accused 10 Thabo Mier, 11 Thabang Joel Makhetha, and 12 Moeketsi Ramolula, made a brief court appearance before Magistrate Mohlolo Khabisi on Wednesday 28 June 2023. On 3 July accused 10 Mier was granted R10 000 bail whilst the other two were remanded in custody until their next court appearance. The case against Mier was postponed to 8 August 2023. 

Thabo Bester co-accused released on R10 000 bail https://t.co/wOkKiAflIZ

— OFM News (@OFMNews9497) July 3, 2023

Only Magudumana and Moyo are yet to apply for bail. Moyo, during his last court appearance, abandoned his right to apply for bail, whilst Magudumana reserved her right to apply for bail in one of her previous appearances.

Bester was arrested in Tanzania alongside Magudumama after they allegedly went on the run from the police. It's said that after his escape from G4S, Bester had a lavish lifestyle in Johannesburg. But after being re-arrested in Tanzania, he and his girlfriend were both brought back to South Africa.

Bester was sent to the Kgosi Mampuru Maximum Correctional Centre, whilst Dr Magudumana was brought to Bloemfontein where she appeared in court on 13 April 2023.

OFM News