Thabo Bester prison escape trial set to commence on 10 Feb 2025
Bester and his accomplice, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, as well as seven others including her father returned to the Free State High Court on Wednesday.
Convicted killer and rapist Thabo Bester in the Bloemfontein High Court on 24 July 2024. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Disgraced Dr Nandipha Magudumana and her co-accused will have to wait for another six months for the Thabo Bester prison escape trial to kick off.
Bester, his accomplice, Magudumana, and seven others including her father, returned to the Free State High Court on Wednesday.
The group is charged for Bester’s brazen escape from Mangaung maximum security prison over two years ago.
They face over 30 counts of fraud, corruption, arson, violating a corpse, and aiding and abetting a prisoner escape - among others.
All the defence lawyers in the Bester prison escape matter, except his, told Free State Judge President Cagney Musi that they were ready for trial.
However, it was Magudumana’s lawyer, Advocate Frans Dlamini, who informed the court of his unavailability for some of the first term.
Judge Musi reminded Dlamini that some of the accused, including his own client, were behind bars awaiting trial, highlighting the need to speed up proceedings.
All counsels have now agreed for the matter to kick off in February, meaning Magudumana and her co-accused will spend another six months behind bars awaiting trial.
Legal aid has granted the application by two of the accused, former G4S guards Senohe Matsoara and Tieho Makhotsa, for representation.
Meanwhile, a date is yet to be set for Bester’s own application where he seeks to challenge the conditions of his detention.