By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Justice and Correctional Service Minister Ronald Lamola says Dr Nandipha Magudumana is facing serious charges when she makes her first court appearance on Thursday.
Lamola said charges levelled at Magudumana will be aiding and abetting escape, murder due to a number of bodies found, violation of bodies and fraud.”
Magudumana and Bester landed on home soil after successful repatriation from Tanzania, after being on the run for more than nine months.
Lamola and minister of police Bheki Cele broke the news to the nation in a media briefing in Cape Town, this morning.
The minister confirmed that Bester has been readmitted into the Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Facility in Pretoria, while Magudumana is under arrest, pending her first court appearance.
The Department of Correctional Services said it will ensure that Bester– dubbed the “Facebook rapist” for luring women on social media with promises of modelling contracts, but instead robbing and raping them — does not harm himself or is harmed by others.
The department said it will place the convicted murderer and rapist under 24-hour surveillance. In addition, Bester will have contact with “highly trained” correctional services officials to ensure there is no security breach.
“We are grateful to all the role players seized with this matter thus far. This includes State agencies and members of the public who have shared information that has assisted in the detention of the two fugitives, following an extensive manhunt,” Lamola said.
The Minister thanked the Tanzanian government for its “unequivocal cooperation in the matter that has gripped the country”.
“We will endeavour to emulate this level of cooperation with other countries in areas of mutual legal assistance and related matters,” Lamola added.
So far, three more people have been arrested in connection with Bester’s escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre prison on 3 May, 2022.
The team investigating the escape at the weekend arrested a former G4S prison warder Senohe Matsoara and Magudumana’s father, Zolile Cornelius Sekeleni.
The duo appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday for aiding the audacious escape of Bester.They are also facing charges of murder, linking them to the body that was found inside a cell at the Mangaung Correctional Centre.