GOVERNMENT UPDATE ON ESCAPEE THABO BESTER AND DR. NANDIPHA MAGUDUMANA

The Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele and Justice Minister, Ronald Lamola have updated the nation on the progress on the deportation of convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester, who escaped from custody at the Mangaung Correctional facility. Bester was believed to have died in his cell in May last year.

Both Ministers would like to thank the government of Tanzania. This is said to come after it’s unequivocal co-operation in the matter which relates to the arrest and process of deportation of Thabo Bester and accomplice Dr Nandipha Magudumana.

The deportation of the fugitives have been successfully concluded as a high level of delegations, led by the Department of Home Affairs were sent to Tanzania on Monday 09 April 2023.

The update confirmed that these fugitives have been returned to South Africa. Mr Thabo Bester has been readmitted into the Kgosi Mampuru Central Maximum Correctional facility and Dr Nandipha Magudumana is under arrest, pending her first court appearance.

The Ministry of Police, Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services are grateful to all the role players seized with this matter thus far, this includes state agencies and members of the public who shared information that has assisted in the detention of the two fugitives, following an extensive man hunt. Thus far there is considerable progress with a number of arrests being effected.