Convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester and his partner, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, could be back in South Africa as soon as Thursday — if there are no hiccups in the deportation process — according to a source close to the investigation.
“The documents have been submitted to our Tanzanian counterparts. We’re just waiting to hear if everything [our request] is line with their laws,” said the source.
A second source with knowledge of the investigation cautioned, however, that the deportation process could take up to 15 days.
Once the fugitive couple arrives in South Africa, they are expected to face several charges similar to those faced by Magudumana’s father, Zolile Sekeleni, and a fired G4S prison warder Senohe Matsoara.
Bester and Magudumana are expected to be held in the maximum security section of Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Pretoria, from where they will be transported to court.
The source close to the investigation speculated that Magudumana, as with her father, had a high likelihood of being charged with murder.
“She will have to answer how she obtained the body that was placed in the cell when Bester escaped.”
The Sunday Times previously reported that the autopsy findings of state forensic pathologist Dr Jacobus Fouche found the person, who was burnt beyond recognition, died from blunt force trauma to the head, not burn injuries, and suffered no smoke inhalation. Traces of an accelerant, a substance used to aid the spread of fire, were found in the body.
Sekeleni and Matsoara appeared briefly in court on Tuesday before their matter was postponed to April 17 for further investigations and a possible bail application.
The pair is also accused of arson, fraud and defeating the ends of justice in Bester’s escape.
According to the charge sheet, the state alleges that on or about March 3 2022, the pair unlawfully killed an unknown male in or around Bloemfontein.
The state requested the court to postpone the matter to allow further investigations.
Sekeleni, who wore a navy blue top with a sling bag over his shoulder, seemed stunned by the media presence in the courtroom and initially covered his face to hide from the cameras. He later unveiled his face when speaking to a family member and his lawyer.
A rugged-looking Matsoara emotionlessly stared into the cameras, except when he interacted with a woman in the public gallery who had her face covered.
Sekeleni is accused of helping his daughter and Bester in obtaining and cremating the decoy body that was placed in Bester’s single cell at the Mangaung correctional centre. Matsoara has been charged for facilitating Bester’s escape.
Magistrate Motlholo Khabi ordered that Sekeleni be remanded in Brandfort while Matsoara will be detained at a police station.
Sekeleni, 65, was arrested at the weekend at his Port Edward home while the former prison warder, 39, was arrested in Bloemfontein by a multidisciplinary team investigating Bester’s escape.
On Monday, Brig Athlenda Mathe said: “Both suspects have been charged with aiding and abetting a convicted prisoner to escape from lawful custody.”
The convicted rapist and murderer and his lover were arrested in Tanzania on Friday, 10km from the Kenyan border.
TimesLIVE Premium reported at the weekend that Magudumana’s father was arrested after police investigated possible involvement or knowledge he may have had in relation to three unknown bodies that were allegedly stolen by Magudumana from Free State mortuaries.
Magudumana’s father was initially taken in for questioning but was later also arrested, according to the source.
“That’s when he was informed about Nandi’s arrest — when he was taken in for questioning. We understand that there are monies that he contributed towards the bodies stolen from the morgues, but we are investigating and trying to see how he fits into the whole scheme,” the source said.
A team from South Africa, including international law experts and legal advisers from the department of correctional services, and the National Prosecuting Authority, arrived in Tanzania on Monday to meet authorities to discuss the best legal mechanism to return the couple to South Africa.
“As we understand it, these individuals may have violated the laws of Tanzania by entering the country illegally, and immigration laws of Tanzania may be applicable.
“Therefore the team will have to work with Tanzanian authorities to process such a violation through the applicable laws,” said justice & correctional services spokesperson Chrispin Phiri.
Asked whether SA’s and Tanzania’s diplomatic relations would impact the deportation process, department of international relations and cooperation spokesperson, Clayson Monyela, referred to a response given by justice minister, Ronald Lamola over the weekend.
Lamola said there is a difference between extradition and deportation.
“That the pair were in Tanzania illegally means they will have to be deported back to South Africa.
“In Bester's case, he was charged, tried, convicted and sentenced. He is someone who escaped from custody. The process should not be difficult in his case,” he said.
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