Magudumana, co-accused bail hearing postponed to 11 May

The group appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court for a formal bail application on Wednesday.

Magistrate Mohlolo Khabisi granted the state prosecutor’s request to have the matter postponed after it was agreed with the defence lawyers.

“After listening to both the prosecution and the defence team, on the aspect of a date for bail application hearing, I come to the conclusion that it’ll be in the interest of justice for this court to adjourn the case to the date of 11 and 12 [May],” he said.

State prosecutor Sello Matlhoko had earlier stated that the discussion was for 10-12 May, however, he added that he is not available on 10 May.

The lawyers for the accused argued that the hearing would need to take place over three days, but Magistrate Khabisi said placing pressure on the state to agree on the 10th when Matlhoko had stated its unavailability may further delay bail proceedings.

“The duration of this bail application can’t be guaranteed at this juncture. I do understand the urgency that is being referred to by the defence team, however, the inception of this bail application will be at least after a day – 11 May, other than the 10th. The reason for this is because it’s given that this is a case that is specifically assigned to him.”

Unlike in her previous two appearances, Magudumana did not attempt to hide her face as she arrived in the courtroom wearing her hair up in a messy bun with a full face of makeup.

The celebrity doctor and her co-accused of helping Bester escape from lawful custody at the Mangaung Correctional Centre in 2022, where he was serving a life sentence for his rape and murder conviction.

Bester and Magudumana were arrested in Tanzania in an extensive manhunt that gripped the nation following an expose by media outlet GroundUp.

READ: Motsoaledi: Bester, Magudumana deportation flight cost R1.4m

Police confirmed the arrest of two more G4S employees earlier this week, bringing the number of implicated persons up to eight.

Earlier the court adjourned to allow Natassja Jansen (accused 8) to consult with lawyers after the state successfully applied to have her and Frans Makhotsa (accused 7) added to the case

Magudumana, IT technician James Lipholo, G4S security officials Senohe Motsoare and John Masukela have been in custody, while her elderly father, Cornelius Sekeleni was granted R10,000 bail last month.

Sekeleni and Bester, who remains under 24-hour surveillance at the Kgosi Mampuru maximum security correctional facility in Pretoria, were not required to be in court.

The brazen escape plan, which included the use of Katlego Bereng’s lifeless body as a decoy, highlighted several contractual breaches by the multi-national company which struggled to give answers when they were hauled before the portfolio committee on justice and correctional services.

ALSO READ: Katlego Bereng's family receive his remains

The Association of Private Security Owners of South Africa (Tapsosa) is the latest organisation to welcome the decision to terminate G4S' contract to run the Mangaung Correctional Centre following the controversial prison break. 

On Tuesday, Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola told lawmakers that his department has served the private security company with a notice to terminate its contract.

“While we welcome the termination, we urge the department to consider other service providers to take over the administration of the Bloemfontein-based facility. It is common knowledge that the department is understaffed, and using the already limited resources to run this prison facility could plunge it into further chaos and instability,” said the association’s spokesperson Sindiswa Changuion

Tapososa’s urged the government to consider local private security companies as an interim solution.