By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South African Police Services (SAPS) confirmed that another suspect has been arrested in connection with the Thabo Bester case.
National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says a 31-year-old Zimbabwean man was arrested on Sunday morning.
The latest suspect faces a charge of assisting an inmate to escape from lawful custody.
“The suspect is likely to face more charges,” said Mathe.
Before Sunday, eight suspects had been arrested in relation to the escape. Six of the suspects are current and former G4S employees.
The 31-year-old man is the ninth person to be arrested in this case.
The suspect is expected to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate Court on Tuesday.
Meanwhile Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola says Bester’s victims were not informed of his escape.
This is according to a parliamentary response from Lamola.
Furthermore, the Department of Home Affairs will not recover from G4S the R1.4 million used to charter a flight to bring Bester and his alleged accomplice, Nandipha Magudumana, back to South Africa.
The DA’s Janho Engelbrecht asked Lamola what was done to “ensure the safety and protection of the victims of the escaped convict and on what exact date were each of them informed of the material risk posed to themselves”.
He also asked when and how the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was informed of Bester’s escape.
Lamola responded: “As soon as the Department of Correctional Services discovered that the offender had indeed escaped from lawful custody, the matter was reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for investigation.
“A case of escape was opened with SAPS on 12 January 2023. In addition, a track and tracing team was established to reinforce the tracing and re-arrest of the offender.
“None of the victims were informed of the escape, in line with the general procedure in relation to informing victims about offender/perpetrators who died, escaped from custody.”
Lamola said the Department of Justice and Correctional Services did not directly inform the NPA.
“However, a criminal case was reported to SAPS for further investigation and possible prosecution by the NPA,” Lamola said.
Bester escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Centre on 3 May 2022 after faking his death in a fire in a solitary cell he had requested to be placed in days before.