Moeketsi Ramolula has been granted bail of R10 000 by the Bloemfontein Magistrate on Friday (14/7). On Tuesday, Ramolula abandoned his right to a bail application with no reason given. 

However, his co-accused Thabang Makhetha was released on bail of R10 000 by Magistrate Estelle de Lange. Strict bail conditions were imposed on him and he was warned to appear in court on 8 August 2023. The case was postponed for further investigations. On Tuesday, the state made another U-turn regarding the bail application of two men accused in the  Bester escape case.

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State Prosecutor Sello Matlhoko again on Tuesday informed 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 De Lange to set their bail at R10 000.

This last group of three suspects in the escape saga faces 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.

Matlhoko told the court that they have gone through discussions with the attorneys and they came to a conclusion to not oppose bail.  

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 Bloemspruit police station. 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.

During the last court sitting she warned Makhetha not to communicate with the 18 state witnesses.

So far, twelve people have been arrested for allegedly aiding Bester to escape.

Ten of the accused have been granted R10 000 bail.

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On Wednesday, 5 July 2023 Free State High Court Judge Joseph Mhlambi released accused 1 Senohe Matsoara, accused 3 Teboho James Lipholo, and accused 7 Teiho Frans Makhotsa on R10 000 bail.

On 20 June 2023, 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.

OFM News