Bheki Cele Vows More People Will Be Arrested for Thabo Bester Prison Break, SA Doesn’t Believe Police Minister

Bheki Cele Vows More People Will Be Arrested for Thabo Bester Prison Break, SA Doesn’t Believe Police Minister

  • Police Minister Bheki Cele is confident that more people will be arrested in connection with Thabo Bester's elaborate escape
  • Four people have been arrested and charged so far, including Bester's lover, Dr Nandipha Magudumana
  • South Africans are tired of Cele singing the same song about making arrests every time police are faced with a high-profile case

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JOHANNESBURG - Police Minister Bheki Cele has vowed to leave no stone unturned regarding holding those involved in Thabo Bester's escape saga accountable.

Police Minister Bheki Cele expressed confidence in the police's capability of arresting more of Thabo Bester accomplices
Police Minister Bheki Cele said police would arrest more people involved in the Thabo Bester escape saga. Image: Dwayne Senior & Frikkie Kapp
Source: Getty Images

Cele's remarks come after it was revealed that before his escape, the "Facebook rapist" would sneak out of the Mangaung Correctional Centre for romantic getaways at luxury hotels.

Bheki Cele says investigations will reveal Thabo Bester's other accomplices

While insisting the SAPS was probing Bester's luxury hotel escapees, the police minister said that police investigation will uncover a wellspring of information that will implicate many more people, TimesLIVE reported.

Read also

Thabo Bester's getaway Mercedes-Benz AMG remains abandoned at Zimbabwe Beitbridge border

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Currently, four people have been arrested and charged with helping Bester escape the G4S-run prison on 3 May 2022.

The accused include the captured fugitive's accomplice and "customary wife", Nandipha Magudumana, her father Zolile Sekeleni, former G4S warder, Sehone Matsoara, and an ex-CCTV technician, Theboho Lipholo.

All four have been charged with aiding and abetting escape, defeating the ends of justice and fraud.

Nandipha Magudumana is Bester's only accomplice charged with murder

Magudumana faces an additional charge of murder for the charred body that was placed in Bester's cell to disguise his escape. Matsoara was also charged with arson relating to the same corpse.

Save for Sekeleni, who was awarded R10 000 bail, the rest of the accused have been remanded to custody pending bail applications of 3 and 4 May, eNCA reported.

Read also

Dr Nandipha’s dad Zolile Sekeleni off the hook for murder after charge dropped, SA slams NPA for incompetence

South Africans are tired of hearing empty promises from Bheki Cele

Below are some comments:

Vinesh Devchander quipped:

"Sure... We believe you! What can go wrong?"

Thembile Ndanda said:

"He always says no stone will be left unturned, the only thing he knows, scandal after scandal, no stone will be left unturned."

John Thackray criticised:

"Cele, what’s happened to crime under your watch is a joke. You shouldn’t need to be turning stones now if you were doing a good job."

Hajira Mandiwa claimed:

"I don't believe him."

Lesego Medupe added:

"We’re still waiting on Senzo, Sumbody, Vusi R5, and AKA's killers to be apprehended, all Cele knows is promises…"

Kay Gee Mengo asked:

"Why does the president keep this useless man in the ministry?"

Dr Nandipha’s dad Zolile Sekeleni off the hook for murder after charge dropped, SA slams NPA for incompetence

Earlier, Brielfy News reported that Dr Nandipha Magudumana's father, Zolile Sekeleni, can breathe a sigh of relief after the National Prosecuting Authority dropped the murder charge levelled against him.

Read also

Family affair: Dr Magudumana and father back in Bloemfontein court for aiding Thabo Bester’s escape

Magudumana's 64-year-old father was charged with murder during his first appearance in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, 11 April, The Citizen reported.

The charge emanated from the charred body that concealed Thabo Bester's escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre on 3 May 2022.

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Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Lerato Mutsila avatar

Lerato Mutsila (Current affairs editor) Lerato Mutsila is a journalist with 3 years of experience. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Pearson Institute of Higher Education in 2020, majoring in broadcast journalism, political science and communication. Lerato joined the Briefly News current affairs desk in August 2022. Mutsila is also a fellow of the 2021/2022 Young African Journalists Acceleration programme, which trained African journalists in climate journalism. You can contact Lerato at lerato.mutsila@breifly.co.za