Thabo Bester saga: State withdraws charges against three accused
The state told the court it was withdrawing charges against Nastassja Jansen, Thabang Meir and Moeketsi Ramolula.
This brings the number of accused persons in the matter, which is being heard in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court, down to nine.
A total of 12 people, including Thabo Bester, his lover, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, and her father, Zolile Sekeleni, have been arrested for their alleged role in his escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022.
Jansen, Ramolula, and Meir are all former employees of the private security company G4S, which managed the facility at the time of Bester’s escape.
After the accused’s lawyers did not object to the announcement by state prosecutor Amanda Bester, Magistrate Estelle de Lange confirmed the trio were free to leave.
“All the charges are then withdrawn against the three of you: Ms Jansen, Mr Mier, and Mr Ramolula. You may stand down,” she said.
Earlier Thabo Bester, who made his second in-person appearance dressed in a less flamboyant attire - as opposed to his previous appearances, confirmed to the court that a new legal team would now represent him.
Attorney Jan Loubser, of Loubser and Loubser Incorporated, confirmed his appearance on behalf of Bester: “I am coming on record on behalf of accused number 5, Thabo Bester, and Advocate Zandile Mshololo will ably assist me.”
At his last appearance in August, Bester’s lawyers told the court that he was being treated inhumanely at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre, alleging that he was kept in handcuffs for 23 hours a day.
NANDIPHA MAGUDUMANA NOT IN COURT
Proceedings got underway in the absence of Magudamana and her lawyer, Machini Motloung.
Magudamana reportedly had to receive medical attention after she collapsed while in the holding cells on Wednesday.
READ: Nandipha Magudumana 'collapses' in holding cells
According to him, “arrangements” had been made to accommodate his client’s poor health.
Speaking to eNCA, Motloung said he had been told that Magudumana was not the only inmate who had fallen ill – insinuating that he was informed prisoners had suffered suspected food poisoning.
He, however, did not confirm if this was the case with his client.
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