State Prosecutor Sello Matlhoko again on Tuesday informed Magistrate Estelle de Lange that the state is not opposed to accused 11 Thabang Joel Makhetha and accused 12 Moeketsi Ramolula being released on bail. He asked Magistrate De Lange to set their bail at an amount of R10 000. 

The two are facing a Schedule 5 offence. They are accused of aiding and abetting Bester to escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre under the guard of the British security company G4S on 3 May 2022. However, accused 12 Ramolula abandoned his right to bail. This means despite the state not opposing bail he will remain in custody.

This comes after the Free State High Court Judge Joseph Mhlambi recently granted three other co-accused bail. Judge Mhlambi on Wednesday (5/7) released accused 1 Senohe Matsoara, accused 3 Teboho James Lipholo, and accused 7 Teiho Frans Makhotsa on R10 000 bail.

The trio was previously denied bail by Magistrate Mohlolo Khabisi, citing varying reasons such as intimidating witnesses and also that their release on bail would cause public outcry. Matlhoko told the court that they have gone through discussions with the attorneys and they came to a conclusion to not oppose bail.  

Accused 12, Moeketsi Ramolula, abandoned his right to bail. Photo: Lucky Nkuyane

The investigator has confirmed that the accused, including Makhetha, do not know the witnesses. Matlhoko said the state does not have grounds to oppose bail. But Matlhoko also requested the magistrate to impose harsh bail conditions on him since he was the only one applying for bail. Makhetha is not allowed to leave the district of Mangaung, and must not communicate with witnesses or interfere with witnesses. He was also told to report to the nearest police station which is Bloemspruit. Magistrate de Lange said she was satisfied with the reasons brought forward by the accused and granted him bail. She also made an order which confirmed the state's request to impose serious bail conditions.

Magistrate De Lange warned Makhetha not to communicate with 18 state witnesses.

So far, twelve people have been arrested for allegedly aiding Bester to escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre on 3 May 2022.

10 of the accused, including Nandipha Magudumana's father Zolile Sekeleni, Nastassja Jansen, Matsoara, Lipholo, Makhotsa, Mier and Makhetha have all been granted R10 000 bail.

Accused 11, Thabang Joel Makhetha, was released on R10 000 bail. His bail was unopposed. Photo: Lucky Nkuyane

The accused in the matter include accused number 1 Matsoara, 2 Sekeleni, 3 Lipholo, 4 Magudumana, 5 Bester, 6 Masukela, 7 Makhotsa, 8 Jansen, 9 Zanda Moyo, 10 Mier, 11 Makhetha, and 12 Ramolula.

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

Bester and Magudumana were arrested in Tanzania. It's said that after Bester escaped from G4S, he had a lavish lifestyle in Johannesburg. But after being re-arrested in Tanzania, he and his girlfriend were brought back to South Africa.

Bester was sent to the Kgosi Mampuru Maximum Correctional Centre, while Magudumana was brought to Bloemfontein where she appeared in court on 13 April 2023. She remains in custody in Kroonstad.

The suspects are set to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on 8 August 2023 for further investigations and also the appearance of other suspects.

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