By Kopano Dibakwane
Prison escapee Thabo Bester and his accomplice Nandipha Magudumana landed at the Lanseria international airport – Johannesburg, in the early hours of Thursday morning after they were reportedly captured by Tanzanian authorities last week.
The minister of justice Ronald Lamola said during a media briefing – alongside police minister Bheki Cele, correctional services national commissioner Samuel Thobakgale, deputy minister of justice Phathekile Holomisa and national police commisioner Fanie Masemola – on Thursday, that the Tanzanian government should be thanked for its cooperation in the arrest and deportation process of Bester and Magudumana.
” The high level delegation led by the department of home affairs sent to Tanzania on 9 April, has successfully concluded the deportation of the fugitives. We can confirm that the fugitives have been returned to South Africa. Mr Thabo Bester has been re-admitted at the Kgoshi Mampuru central maximum correctional facility, Dr Nandipha Magudumana is under arrest, pending her first court appearance this morning,” said Lamola
Thobakgale said that Bester will receive a 24 hours surveillance in the section of Kgoshi Mampuru correctional facility which caters for high risk and high profile offenders to ensure that he is not exposed to any harm either from himself or other inmates, also to ensure that there is no security breach. Thobakgale added that Kgoshi Mampuru correctional facility has not experienced any escapes in the past five years after it was upgraded.
Cele revealed that investigations are underway to determine if no other parties are linked to the escape, not ruling out high profile politicians. He also said that Magudumana has cooperated with Tanzanian authorities while the same could not be said about Bester.
Masemola said that the Mozambican national who was arrested alongside Bester and Magudumana, will be extradited as soon as investigations are concluded to ensure that he is not linked to other crimes in South Africa.
” Five people have been arrested so far, including Bester and Magudumana. The charges faced by Magudumana are aiding and abetting the esacape, murder, violation of bodies and fraud,” said Masemola.
