THE PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE OF THABO BESTER AND CO-ACCUSED POSTPONED
Thabo Bester, Dr Nandipha Magudumane, and seven co-accused have appeared in the High Court of South Africa: Free State Division sitting in Bloemfontein, and their matter was postponed to 05 June 2024, for purposes of a pre-trial Conference. Thabo Bester, Dr Nandipha Magudumane, Senohe Matsoara, Zolile Sekeleni, Teboho Liphoko, Buti Masukela, Tieho Makhotsa, Zanda Moyo, and Joel Makhetha are facing charges of fraud, corruption, assisting an inmate to escape, violation of the body, arson, and defeating the ends of justice. The eight accused are alleged to have assisted Thabo Bester’s escape at the Mangaung Correctional Facility where he was serving a sentence for murder and rape. After his escape, Thabo Bester together with Nandipha Magudumane, became fugitives and they were arrested by the authorities in Arusha, Tanzania and they were subsequently deported to South Africa.
The pre-trial conference that was scheduled to take place in the High Court could not proceed, as four accused, one being Thabo Bester indicated to the court that they had appointed new legal representatives. The defence requested the court to afford the new legal representatives time to get copies of the docket and be able to consult with their clients.
Thabo Bester, Dr Nandipha Magudumane, and Zanda Moyo are remanded in custody after they were denied bail by the Bloemfontein District Court. The other six accused are out on bail of R10 000 each. The matter will be back in court on 05 June 2024, for purposes of pre-trial conference.
