THE South African government has confirmed that the most wanted duo in the country, Thabo Bester and Dr Nandipha Magudumana, were arrested in Tanzania.
Briefing the Media on Saturday, 8 April, the Minister of Justice and Correctional Service, Ronald Lamola, said the couple and another accomplice were arrested on Friday night, 7 April, while they were trying to move from Tanzania to another country.
According to reports, the trio was nabbed for being in the country illegally.
Bester, who escaped prison on 3 May 2022, has been on the run from the police.
“We have confirmed with all the relevant authorities in Tanzania, which includes the National Commissioner of Police in Tanzania and Interpol, that the fugitives are being processed," Lamola said.
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He added that Dr Magudumana will be charged for assisting Bester in his escape.
Lamola said more charges will be brought against Magudumana as the police continued with their investigation.
He said bringing them back to South Africa will not be complicated because they have a good relationship with Tanzania.
Lamola said a high-level police delegation will go to Tanzania to extradite Thabo Bester.
He added that Tanzanian authorities have been helpful in the investigations.
“We are confident that we will receive maximum cooperation from our sister nation of Tanzania, to assist us to bring these fugitives to justice. The level of cooperation has been exemplary thus far,” said Lamola.
Minister of Police Bheki Cele added that he is confident and happy with how the police treated the Bester matter.
He said the police have been hard at work even when the news of their arrest.
Cele said Bester and Madugumana were spotted by people working with South African police.
“They were leaving Tanzania heading to another country Kenya when they were followed and arrested. It was discovered they had several passports with different names,” he said.
He added that the police are investigating a case of murder on what happened to the person found in Bester's cell.
“A case of murder is under investigation following the outcome of the DNA analysis that confirmed that the body was not of Thabo Bester. The autopsy report went on to further reveal that the deceased had died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head and was already dead prior to the arson incident,” he said.
Addressing allegations of cover-up from the police, Cele said anyone with information about that should come forward.
