By Kopano Dibakwane
Justice minister, Ronald Lamola, held an emergency news briefing to announce the latest update regarding South African fugitive, Thabo Bester, who was reportedly captured in Tanzania last night together with his “girlfriend” Dr Nandipha Magudumana and an unidentified Mozambican national.
Bester’s arrest follows a dramatic escape from the Mangaung correctional facility in May last year. He has been on news headlines after a recent picture emerged on social media, whereby he was spotted apparently doing some shopping with Magudumana in Sandton City, Johannesburg.
Lamola, who was flanked by SAPS( South African Police Services) minister Bheki Cele, the area commissioner at Kgoshi Mampuru prison- Emmanuel Khoza and national police commisioner general Fanie Masemola, welcomed the news and credited all law enforcement agencies for working around the clock to guarantee Bester’s re-arrest.
” A case of escape from lawful custody was registered on confirmation by the department of correctional services that Thabo Bester was not in their custody. We’ve confirmed with all relevant authorities in Tanzania and Interpol that the fugitives are being processed by the Tanzanian criminal justice system. I’ve also had a telephone call with the justice minister in Tanzania, who has confirmed to us their cooperation and willingness to help in the process to bring them(fugitives) to South Africa,” said Lamola.
Police minister Bheki Cele, said he’s confident that the Tanzanian authorities have apprehended the right people. He revealed that Bester, Magudumana and the Mozambican national were arrested after they were discovered to be in Tanzania illegally, also found in possession of several passports with different names.
” They were followed as they left the hotel in a black SUV, heading for the border of another country. Their entrance into Tanzania was not stamped, we’re told they were 10 kilometres away from Kenya. We bank on investigations to give us more information,” said Cele
Lamola said that a warrant of arrest was already issued by the police against Magudumana, who is facing a charge of helping Bester to escape, also that more charges can be added based on the discretion by police. He also mentioned that a case of murder is under investigation following the outcome of DNA analysis which confirmed that the body of the deceased which was found in the Mangaung correctional facility was not that of Bester.
” The autopsy report went on to further reveal that the deceased had died as a result of a blunt force trauma to the head and was already dead prior to the arson incident in the facility,” he said.
Lamola added that an official delegation from South Africa which includes senior officials from police, justice and correctional services will head to Tanzania tommorow, to ensure that the fugitives are brought back into the country to face justice.
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