Thabo Bester: A timeline of what you need to know, from escape to re-arrest

JOHANNESBURG - Convicted criminal Thabo Bester and his partner Dr Nandipha Magudumana arrived back in South Africa on Thursday morning.

The pair were caught in Tanzania last Friday, after being on the run since Bester's escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in May last year, where Bester was serving a life sentence for murder and a series of rape charges.

Last month, _GroundUp _blew the lid on Bester's escape.

In case you have missed key details in what has become a story full of twists and turns, here is an Eyewitness News summary of the main developments since last month's confirmation by the Department of Correctional Services that Bester had indeed escaped prison.

25 March 2023 - Correctional Services confirms Bester's escape

• Thabo Bester did not die in a fire but escaped from prison, confirms DCS

• 'Priority is to get Bester behind bars as he's extremely dangerous': DCS

27 March 2023 - SAPS announces murder case has been opened against Bester

This was after it emerged that Bester could have killed someone during his plot to escape prison.

• Police open murder case against Bester

27 March 2023 - Spotlight on Nandipha's family begins

• Nandipha Magudumana's brother denies knowing escaped murderer Thabo Bester

• Thabo Bester's escape sends Magudumana's brother into hiding

28 March 2023 - Questions begin to swirl on then Mangaung Prison managers, G4S

• Thabo Bester escape - Parliament wants answers from G4S, Correctional Services

• Thabo Bester: Correctional Services takes over running of Mangaung Prison

30 March - Government says it's 'embarrassed' by Thabo Bester's escape

• Govt 'embarrassed' by Thabo Bester's prison escape - Ntshavheni

5 April - Thabo Bester's mother speaks out

8 April - Thabo Bester and Magudumana arrested in Tanzania

9 April - Dr Nandipha Magudumana's dad enters the fray

• Police quiz Dr Nandipha's dad in Thabo Bester prison break investigation

Fast-forward a few days later, he is officially charged with murder and appears in court.

• Dr Nandipha's father charged with murder

9 April - Police announce more arrests, including G4S employees

• Cops confirm two suspects linked to Thabo Bester's escape from prison

10 April - SA delegation arrives in Tanzania to facilitate repatriation

• SA officials in Tanzania to repatriate Thabo Bester, Nandipha Magudumana

• Fugitive Thabo Bester back behind bars after return to SA - Lamola

11 April - G4S accounts to Parliament over Bester's escape, and more details emerge

• G4S gives MPs detailed timeline of days leading to Thabo Bester's escape

• MPs tear into G4S directors over Thabo Bester prison escape

• Dr Nandipha Magudumana visited convicted murderer Bester regularly in prison

13 April - Bester and Nandipha arrive back in SA

- Thabo Bester, Nandipha Magudumana back in SA after Tanzania capture
- 'The good doctor cooperated': Cele details how Bester, Magudumana returned to SA
- Fugitive Thabo Bester back behind bars after return to SA - Lamola