Convicted “Facebook rapist” Thabo Bester and his lover, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, were spirited back into South Africa from Tanzania in the lap of luxury on board a privately chartered jet during the early hours of Thursday morning.
Their return to South Africa brings an end to their almost month-long dash from authorities, which began when they fled their R12m Hyde Park mansion in Johannesburg’s northern suburbs.
TimesLIVE Investigations can reveal that the government chartered a Dassault Falcon 900B to fly senior police, home affairs and justice department officials to Tanzania and return with the high-profile couple, along with their Mozambican accomplice, Zakaria Alberto, back to South Africa.
It is unknown why neither the SA Air Force nor the SAPS, which have aircraft capable of flying non-stop to Arusha, were not used to ferry the fugitives back home.
The aircraft was chartered from Zenith Air by the National Airways Corporation (NAC), which, according to National Treasury documents seen by TimesLIVE Premium, is an approved government airline charter provider.
Magudumana, Bester and Alberto’s 2,676km flight on board Zenith Air’s Dassault aircraft, ZS-DFJ, ended when they landed at Johannesburg's Lanseria international airport shortly after 4am on Thursday.
Photographs and video footage show heavily armed police, including members of the SAPS special task force, rushing to the aircraft in armoured vehicles as it came to a stop before the trio were whisked off the plane.
While Magudumana was walked through the airport’s gate 3 and loaded into an awaiting white Mercedes-Benz Vito minibus accompanied by two heavily armed policewomen, police were leaving nothing to chance when it came to Bester, racing him off the tarmac inside an Nyala armoured vehicle, surrounded by Special Task Force members.
A search of Zenith Air’s website reveals pictures of ZS-DFJ, which is specially fitted out to transport VIPs.
On its website, the company states it is “one of the most respected and reputable charter operators in South Africa. We are an industry leader in VIP air charter ... We offer private charters from SA with state-of-the-art luxury ... We offer services to heads of state, VIPs and captains of industry.”
TimesLIVE Premium has learnt from a source with knowledge of the flight that although not handcuffed, Magudumana and Bester were separated, with officials guarding them throughout.
They were very quiet. You could see Magudumana was realising what she had done. It hit home for her when the plane landed. She was crying. Bester was emotionless throughout the flight
— Source
“They were not allowed to communicate. Magudumana was kept near the back of the aircraft, Bester closer to the front. On either side they had guards. They were very quiet. You could see Magudumana was realising what she had done. It hit home for her when the plane landed. She was crying. Bester was emotionless throughout the flight.”
Zenith Air’s general manager, Petro Jacobs referred TimesLIVE Premium to NAC.
Asked about the flight, Karin Roodt, NAC marketing manager, said: “We will not be commenting on that at all.”
Police ministry spokesperson Lirandzu Themba and justice ministry spokesperson Chrispin Phiri referred TimesLIVE Premium to the SAPS for comment.
Phiri said: "That’s not something within my knowledge or sphere of influence. Please check with SAPS directly."
Themba said: "Please ask the SAPS. [The] ministry doesn’t have [an] aircraft."
The police's Athlenda Mathe later issued a response, saying: "The aircraft was chartered with the assistance and support of our Home Affairs department. Deportation matters are facilitated by Home Affairs, the Home Affairs representative led the issues of immigration, therefore their return to SA was facilitated through the help of Immigration Services which forms part of Home Affairs.
"SAPS only took control of them upon their arrival in SA, as we have no jurisdiction in Tanzania. The SAPS appreciates the role played by the Home Affairs department in assisting us to bring back these fugitives of justice to SA," Mathe added.
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