Original subtitles

They finally identified who it was

that burned down in the cell, that was allegedly Thabo Bester.

FOOTBALL, JOKES, SINGING.. TILL HE DIED.

...whose body was finally been laid to rest.

THE BODY, THE DECOY.

WHOSE CHARRED REMAINS WERE IN THAT CELL?

FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR THERE WAS NO NAME.

OF COURSE, THERE WAS NO FACE.

NOW WE HAD A NAME, KATLEGO BERENG.

His mother is in a total state.

Completely emotional.

The sad part is that Katlego's family

has been thinking that this man has been missing all of this time.

PEOPLE ARE ONLY CONCENTRATING ON THE CASE,

BUT NOT ON HOW MY SON DIED.

TO FIND YOUR FAMILY MEMBER'S BODY

CHARRED BEYOND RECOGNITION IN A PRISON CELL.

Guy, the trauma.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO SEE THE BODY?

IT WAS BAD.

IT WAS BAD BECAUSE HE WAS BURNED BEYOND RECOGNITION, YOU KNOW?

IT ONLY TOOK A FEELING OF A PARENT TO A CHILD TO SAY,

"YES, THIS IS MY SON."

If I can see him again

I will still express the same love.

WE HAD KATLEGO WHEN WE WERE TOO YOUNG, MONICA AND I.

AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, WE LOST TOUCH WHILE SHE WAS PREGNANT.

BUT I MADE IT A POINT WHEN I STARTED WORKING THAT I MUST LOOK FOR HIM.

UP UNTIL I FOUND HIM IN 2008.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO BE REUNITED?

IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL, YOU KNOW, KNOWING THAT, FINALLY,

I'M UNITED WITH MY FIRST BORN.

NOW I HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AS THE FATHER, YOU KNOW,

TO HELP MONICA TO RAISE HIM.

I WAS SAVING ONE CHILD. KATLEGO BERENG.

I DIDN'T REALISE HE WAS YOUR ONLY CHILD.

IT WAS ONLY KATLEGO BERENG. MM.

FOR US, WE THOUGHT MAYBE,

HE JUST WENT SOMEWHERE TO LOOK FOR A JOB,

HE JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, TO SURPRISE US,

AND HE WAS SOMEBODY WHO ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, PUT SOMETHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE WAS NO LONGER ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

THEN MY WIFE SAID TO ME,

"I'VE SEARCHED FOR HIM FOR A WHILE ON SOCIAL MEDIA,

I DON'T SEE HIM POSTING ANYTHING."

I DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, FORESEE THE WORST.

BUT I SAID, "AS RESPONSIBLE PARENTS WE HAVE TO DO THE RIGHT THING."

I THEN ENCOURAGED MONICA TO GO AND OPEN A MISSING PERSON REPORT.

Katlego Mpholo's family has rejected the police report

that says he collapsed in town and was taken to hospital.

HOW MUCH TIME WENT BY TO THE TRUTHS BEING KNOWN?

THAT, "HEY, THE PERSON WHO ACTUALLY BURNT IN THAT CELL

WAS NOT THABO BESTER."

AND THOSE WHO KNEW CHOSE TO IGNORE.

BECAUSE THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO KNEW.

THIS WASN'T LEAKED TO GROUNDUP BY AN INMATE.

IT TOOK A FORMER CONSTITUTIONAL COURT JUDGE

TO BLOW THE LID ON THE STORY.

JUDGE EDWIN CAMERON WAS THE INITIAL WHISTLE-BLOWER

THAT LED US DOWN THIS PATH.

FROM THE BEGINNING, MY EDITOR NATHAN,

LET ME KNOW THAT OUR SOURCE WAS JUSTICE EDWIN CAMERON.

THE VERY FIRST RED FLAG CAME WITHIN DAYS

OF THE ALLEGED DEATH OF THABO BESTER IN MANGAUNG MAXIMUM PRISON.

AND THAT WAS THE STRANGENESS OF IT.

YOU DON'T EASILY COMMIT SUICIDE BY SELF INCINERATION

INSIDE THE MOST SECURE WING

OF ONE THE THREE MOST SECURE PRISONS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

SO WE WERE ALERTED TO IT.

WE WERE CONDUCTING OUR INVESTIGATION.

WE KEPT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES

AND THE MINISTER INFORMED.

I WROTE TO BOTH THE NATIONAL COMMISSIONER AND TO THE MINISTER.

BUT NOTHING WAS HAPPENING.

AND BY SEPTEMBER I STARTED ALERTING NATHAN GEFFEN,

FOUNDER/EDITOR OF GROUNDUP.

ON THE 12TH OF OCTOBER I SENT HIM THE FIRST LEAK.

This astonishing story

was uncovered by online non-profit news agency GroundUp.

I'm joined now by their editor, Nathan Geffen.

Why has it taken so long for the authorities

to make sure that that body that was unrecognisable was indeed him?

It really seems to be shambolic.

They're failing to answer questions that are of immense public interest.

The Department of Correctional Services

surely has quite a bit of egg on their face over this.

And I think this is incompetence or negligence

or corruption of the highest degree.

I DID NOT HAVE CONFIDENCE

THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, OR G4S,

OR THE SAPS WOULD MOUNT A VIGOROUS, SWIFT

RESPONSIVE CAMPAIGN OF ACTION,

AND I KNEW THAT WE HAD TO INVOLVE INDEPENDENT MEDIA.

JUSTICE CAMERON IS A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON

IN SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIETY. HE'S CONTRIBUTED TREMENDOUSLY.

AND HE'S CURRENTLY THE INSPECTING JUDGE OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES.

SO HE'S THE HEAD OF THE JUDICIAL INSPECTORATE, JICS,

WHICH HAS A MANDATE TO INVESTIGATE

ANY UNNATURAL DEATHS IN PRISON FACILITIES,

TO OVERSEE THE TREATMENT OF INMATES.

WE ARE VERY CONCERNED WHEN WE GET INFORMATION FROM PRISONERS.

WE SEE PRISONERS AS BEING OUR EARLY WARNING SYSTEM.

I CONFERRED WITH JUDGE NOKUTHULA DANISO

OF THE FREE STATE HIGH COURT,

WHO THE JUDGE PRESIDENT HAD SENT TO MANGAUNG

WHEN HE GOT A LETTER FROM ONE OF THE PRISONERS RAISING THE ALARM,

TELLING THIS INCREDIBLE STORY THAT THABO BESTER HAD ACTUALLY ESCAPED.

THERE WAS SOMETHING VERY UNTOWARD HAPPENING.

THE LITTLE MORSEL THAT MADE ME THINK THAT HE'D ESCAPED WAS,

I THINK THE MISSTEP THAT DR MAGUDUMANA COMMITTED.

WHICH WAS THAT SHE WANTED THE BODY.

TO DO AWAY WITH IT, TO GET IT OUT.

TO MAKE SURE THAT ITS DNA WASN'T GOING TO TELL TALES.

SOME ENTERPRISING CONSTABLE, WHO DESERVES HONOUR, IN BLOEMFONTEIN,

SAID, "I'M NOT RELEASING THE BODY 'CAUSE I'M SUSPICIOUS."

WHO ACTUALLY DID HIS JOB. AND WENT TO ALERT HIS SUPERIOR

ABOUT THIS STRANGE PERSON WHO WAS CLAIMING,

YOU KNOW, THE THIRD BODY IN A ROW.

YOU KNOW? BUY THAT MAN A BELLS.

SHE DECIDED TO GO TO COURT.

BIG MISTAKE.

HE WAS ALREADY OUT BY THEN.

WHEN SHE WENT TO COURT, SHE WROTE AN AFFIDAVIT FULL OF LIES.

LIES ABOUT HOW SHE MET THABO BESTER, LIES ABOUT WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP WAS.

LIES ABOUT EVERY DETAIL.

WHEN WE GOT HOLD OF THAT AFFIDAVIT,

ALL THE LOOSE THREADS STARTED COMING APART.

I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THE HAWKS, THE SAPS,

THE DEPARTMENT, AND G4S TO SPRING INTO ACTION,

TO FOLLOW UP, WHERE WAS THABO BESTER?

WHO WAS THIS DR MAGUDUMANA?

IF YOU FIND OUT WHERE SHE'S RESIDING,

"HEY, PRESTO, MIRACLE. HERE'S THABO BESTER."

SO MANGUANG CORRECTIONAL CENTRE IS A PRIVATE PRISON OPERATED BY G4S.

G4S IS A MULTI-NATIONAL SECURITY COMPANY.

THEY'RE MASSIVE.

THEY EMPLOY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

THEY'RE NOT JUST IN THE PRIVATE PRISONS' SPACE,

THEY'RE ALSO IN THE PRIVATE SECURITY SPACE,

THEY IN THE CASH IN TRANSIT SPACE.

THEY'VE GOT A BIT OF A SKETCHY TRACK RECORD INTERNATIONALLY.

SOME OF THEIR PRISONS IN THE UK HAVE BEEN CLOSED,

OR THEIR CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AWAY

AFTER EVIDENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE HAS EMERGED.

I think many of us didn't even know

there were private prisons.

So in my mind I'm like,

"What's the difference between government and private business?"

The one has to make money.

PRIVATE PRISONS,

THEY'RE THERE TO MAKE MONEY OFF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

AND THEY GET PAID SOMEWHAT THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT FOR A PRISONER

THAN A PRISONER IN THE NORMAL SYSTEM.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN PAYING ABOUT R45 MILLION A MONTH

TO G4S FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF MANGAUNG.

AND TO DATE HAS PAID ABOUT R7 BILLION ON THE PRISON,

AND IF THE CONTRACT CONTINUES UNTIL 2026,

THE GOVERNMENT EXPECTS TO PAY ABOUT R9 BILLION.

SOUTH AFRICA HAS A MASSIVE PROBLEM WITH OUR PRISON SYSTEM.

AND IT'S ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS,

FROM A SOCIO-ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE THROUGH TO A JUSTICE PERSPECTIVE

THROUGH TO A FUNDING PERSPECTIVE.

SOME ESTIMATE THAT OUR PRISONS ARE 140 PERCENT FULL.

WHEN YOU'VE GOT THAT ENVIRONMENT

THE PRISON WARDERS HAVE BECOME VERY SCARED FOR THEIR LIVES.

THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE.

THE DCS, THE GOVERNMENT PRISONS,

THEY KEPT PLUS-MINUS 40 TO 50 INMATES IN THE ONE SECTION.

WHILE I WAS WORKING THERE I USED TO CALL THEM "STREETS".

BUT, YOU KNOW, I PREFER TO WORK IN DCS

BECAUSE IT'S A SAFER PLACE THAN G4S.

BECAUSE MOST OF THE "STREETS" WILL BE CARRYING 64 INMATES.

ONE IS EQUALS TO 64 INMATES. REALLY.

YOU ARE ALONE, THEY'LL KILL YOU.

WARDENS OFTEN GET THREATENED.

SO, YOU KNOW, INMATES WILL SAY,

"I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE AND I KNOW WHERE YOUR KIDS GO TO SCHOOL,

AND I HAVE LOTS OF CONTACTS OUTSIDE OF THERE,

SO YOU DO THIS THING OF ME OR ELSE."

AND I THINK THAT'S MORE THE REASON WHY THE SYSTEM FAILS.

I THINK THAT WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE IS A GRIEVOUS INSTANCE,

IT'S THE MOST ASTOUNDING INSTANCE, OF THIS KIND OF ESCAPE.

BUT IT IS SYMPTOMATIC OF PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THE PRISON SYSTEM.

G4S AND BLOEMFONTEIN CORRECTIONAL CONTRACTS

WERE INVITED TO COME TO PARLIAMENT

BY THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES AND JUSTICE,

TO COME AND ACCOUNT AND GIVE A PRESENTATION

OF THEIR INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE THABO BESTER ESCAPE,

AND TO SAY WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

G4S HAD SENT US A LETTER THAT MORNING, I THINK,

OR IT WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE, TO THE CHAIRPERSON

SAYING THEY WEREN'T COMING.

THEY SAID THAT CONFIDENTIALITY CLAUSES IN THEIR CONTRACT,

AS WELL AS IN THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES ACT,

PROHIBITED THEM FROM COMING TO PARLIAMENT

WITHOUT A PARLIAMENTARY SUMMONS.

WHICH WOULD BASICALLY GRANT THEM IMMUNITY FROM THOSE CLAUSES.

CAN PRIVATE CORPORATIONS GET AWAY WITH THIS KIND OF THING

WITHOUT GIVING ANY ANSWERS?

THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD.

I am absolutely outraged that G4S

thumbed their nose at a committee of Parliament.

A portfolio committee of Parliament, to which they should account.

It's very clear that they have something to hide.

WE CAN'T GO AHEAD WITHOUT THEM, THERE'S NO POINT.

THE KIND OF ANSWERS WE NEED, THEY MUST BE PRESENT,

AND POSTPONE THIS MEETING AND SUMMONS THEM.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE WHEN YOU HEARD THE NEWS?

I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS GONNA SOUND,

- BUT I WAS ACTUALLY SLEEPING, - AND THEN I WOKE UP...

- SHOULD I SAY THAT? - JA. THAT'S PERFECT.

OKAY. I WAS WOKEN UP BY A YOUTUBE NOTIFICATION.

ONE SATURDAY MORNING WE WOKE UP QUITE SURPRISED TO SEE A TWEET GOING AROUND

THAT BESTER AND MAGUDUMANA HAD BEEN ARRESTED IN TANZANIA.

In breaking news. Rapist and murderer, Thabo Bester,

has been arrested.

...last night in Arusha, in Tanzania.

It's believed his partner, Dr Nandipha Magudumana,

was also apprehended.

PICTURES STARTED CIRCULATING UPON THEIR ARREST,

AND BESTER WAS WEARING A WHITE HEAD SCARF.

What is this with a dishcloth on your head?

Just tell me. Is that a disguise?

This is what you look like.

This story just keeps getting f♪♪♪ing crazier.

Apparently they were in Tanzania illegally.

Also caught with a bunch of passports on them.

SEVERAL PASSPORTS WERE FOUND ON THEIR POSSESSION,

INCLUDING A PASSPORT BELONGING TO DR PASHY, ONE OF THEIR SCAM VICTIMS.

A PASSPORT BELONGING TO NANDIPHA MAGUDUMANA HERSELF.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, BESTER DIDN'T HAVE A REAL IDENTITY,

SO HE WAS FOUND WITH A FAKE US PASSPORT IN THE NAME OF TOM KELLY.

WHICH IS ALSO ONE OF THE ALIASES HE'S USED IN THE PAST.

IT'S A VERY PROFESSIONAL, AND A VERY CLOSE-KNIT AND SMALL COMMUNITY

THAT ACTUALLY MANUFACTURE FAKE PASSPORTS.

SO THOSE PASSPORTS HE WAS FOUND IN POSSESSION OF

WOULD HAVE COST HIM A LOT OF MONEY.

THEY OBVIOUSLY WORKED

BECAUSE HE WAS ABLE TO GET INTO TANZANIA FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

BUT THEY WEREN'T STAMPED.

VERY STRANGE.

How they left, they left illegally.

They left the country illegally because they...

Nothing shows in any.. Whatever form of documentation

that they left the country legally. Maybe they'll explain.

SO IT MEANS THAT EITHER THEY DIDN'T PASS THROUGH A BORDER POST,

OR THEY PAID SOMEBODY AT A BORDER POST,

OR THEY PAID SOMEBODY TO MOVE THEM ACROSS

WITHOUT HAVING TO PRODUCE THOSE PASSPORTS.

BUT WE ALL KNOW OUR BORDERS ARE VERY, VERY POROUS.

It's a deportation, not an extradition?

Who helped them? How did they get out of the country?

Police are still trying to figure out

how they're gonna deport Dr Nandipha from Tanzania

to face justice for a warrant that she has in South Africa.

THEY HAD TO PLAY IT QUITE CAREFULLY

BECAUSE WHEN SOMEONE'S ARRESTED IN ANOTHER COUNTRY

AND YOU WANNA BRING THEM BACK TO FACE TRIAL,

THEY NEED TO NORMALLY BE EXTRADITED.

Thabo Bester, on the hand, it's a lot easier,

because he is an escaped convicted felon,

so he's just getting deported to come back here

to continue serving his time.

SO WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT

MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TANZANIAN GOVERNMENT

THAT MAGUDUMANA AND BESTER WOULD BOTH BE DEPORTED

AND THAT THEY CAN BE TAKEN IN A SOUTH AFRICAN PLANE.

SOUTH AFRICA IS A FASCINATING PLACE.

OUR POLITICIANS DON'T READILY GET EMBARRASSED

BY THE FACT THAT THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING BLACKOUTS,

ELECTRICITY POWER CUTS, IN EXCESS OF 15 YEARS.

AND SO FLIGHTS WERE CHARTERED, HOME AFFAIRS OFFICIALS GOT ON-BOARD.

THEY WILL LEAVE NO EXPENSE TO TRY AND SECURE THESE TWO

BECAUSE THIS IS THE STORY THE NATION IS TALKING ABOUT.

Why would you need to charter a private jet?

Chairperson, simply put,

it was part of negotiations with the officials on the other side.

So the Tanzanian's wanted to fly to South Africa

on a private jet? Is that what you're saying?

It's a yes or no answer.

No, I'm not going to answer that way. No.

Then don't answer.

- You can tell us to answer yes or no. - No, don't answer.

- Absolutely not in court here. - It's fine.

THERE WAS A MANHUNT THAT WAS AT A PRETTY ADVANCED STAGE.

BUT IT SEEMS THE ARREST ITSELF WAS DONE BY TANZANIAN AUTHORITIES,

NOT BY SOUTH AFRICAN AUTHORITIES.

SO THE POLICE WORK WAS DONE BY THE TANZANIANS,

THEY DID THE JOB THAT THE SOUTH AFRICANS

WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE DONE A YEAR EARLIER, AND HANDED HIM OVER.

Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester,

and his accomplice Dr Nandipha Magudumana

are actually expected to touch down in South Africa any minute now.

NOBODY KNEW WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO LAND.

IT WAS.. A SECRET.

WE HAD TO SNIFF OUT.

FORTUNATELY WE HAD ACCESS TO SOME INFORMATION,

AND WE BASICALLY CAMPED OUT AT THE LANSERIA AIRPORT.

SO DID YOU STAY AWAKE THE WHOLE NIGHT?

YES, WE DID. SO WE HAD BEEN THERE FROM 20:00

UNTIL 16:00 THE NEXT DAY WHEN THEY ARRIVED.

Well shortly after 16:00,

the aircraft carrying Thabo Bester and Dr Nandipha Magudumana arrived.

HE WAS THEN WHISKED INTO THE POLICE NYALA.

Mr Bester, do you have anything to say?!

Mr Bester, do you have anything to say?!

I see you there.

Dr Nandipha Magudumana walked right past us.

AND YOU WOULD'VE SEEN A VIDEO THAT HAD GONE VIRAL WHERE I ASKED HER...

Dr Nandipha Magudumana, do you have anything to say?

MAYBE FOR HER, AT THAT MOMENT,

EVERYTHING COULD'VE SUNK IN.

The reality that.. Her freedom is gone.

Escapee Mr.. Thabo Bester...

or well known as Thabo Bester...

with his accomplice, also known as Dr Nandipha "Magudumalong",

with a Mozambican national, have been arrested.

This is where Thabo Bester was brought to under 24 hour guard.

WHEN NANDIPHA WAS APPREHENDED WITH THABO BESTER...

THERE WAS A SENSE OF RELIEF.

I CALLED MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, NANDIPHA'S HUSBAND,

I ASKED HIM HOW HE FEELS, HE SAID NO, HE'S RELIEVED,

BECAUSE NOW HE CAN EXPLAIN TO THE KIDS

THAT, "MOMMY DID A FEW WRONG THINGS,

AND SHE'S GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO ANSWER,"

WHICH IS A BIT BETTER THAN SAYING, "NO, MOMMY IS BACK IN A BODY BAG."

Are you okay?

Okay. Do you wanna say anything?

- No. - Okay.

Zolile Sekeleni...

Nandipha Magudumana father...

The reason why Dr Nandi's dad was jailed

and is now appearing in court

is because they believe that he helped Thabo Bester escape.

It's alleged he hired the car that transported Bereng's body.

IT'S POSSIBLY, FOR ME,

THE MOST PUZZLING PIECE OF THIS ENTIRE STORY.

WAS IT FOR MONEY? WAS IT FOR ACCESS TO THE FANCY MANSION?

WAS IT FOR THE FLASHY CARS?

YOU WOULD EXPECT THAT IF NANDIPHA MAGUDUMANA

WAS GONNA GET HERSELF INVOLVED IN SOMETHING LIKE THAT,

HER FATHER WOULD BE THE VOICE OF REASON.

I'M VERY CROSS WITH NANDIPHA THAT SHE GOT MY FATHER INVOLVED.

IT'S UNHEARD OF, YOU KNOW?

WE SHOULD BE THE ONES PROTECTING OUR PARENTS.

SHE SHOULD'VE.. FEAR, DREAD.

THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF HER FATHER.

NO, HE'S AN ACCOMPLICE. ALLEGEDLY.

I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IF MY FATHER HAD BEEN ALIVE,

AND I'D ASKED HIM TO DO THAT FOR ME, HE WOULD'VE SAID NO.

AND DRAGGED ME OFF, BY MY EAR, TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION.

MY DAD IS ALLOWED TO BE AT HOME EVEN THOUGH HIS MOVEMENTS ARE RESTRICTED.

AND I GUESS HE'S LEARNED TO LIVE WITH IT AT THE MOMENT.

AND WE SORT OF SPEAK EVERY DAY.

AND.. HE DOESN'T HAVE ANGER,

HE'S JUST OPTIMISTIC,

AND LOOKING FORWARD TO BETTER DAYS, IF I MAY SAY.

AND MOSTLY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SISTER.

SO, JA, I THINK HE'S...

HE'S TAKING IT LIKE A MAN.

SEKELENI AND MATSOARA WERE CHARGED WITH HELPING BESTER ESCAPE,

AND ARSON, BUT THEY WERE ALSO CHARGED WITH MURDER.

Matsoara was fired by G4S in September,

but not before boasting about a brand-new car before Bester's escape.

Here is Thabo Bester's ID.

DR AARON MOTSOALEDI, THE HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER,

GIVES THABO BESTER AN ID.

THABO BESTER HAS BEEN UNDOCUMENTED FOR OVER 30 YEARS,

AND YET IT TOOK THE DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS A MATTER OF DAYS

TO ISSUE BOTH THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND AN IDENTITY DOCUMENT

THAT IS PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC.

SO IT'S ALMOST AS IF THEY USED THIS OPPORTUNITY AS A PR STUNT

TO SHOW THAT THEY'VE DONE SOMETHING GOOD AND POSITIVE

WHEN THERE ARE OTHER MILLIONS OF PEOPLE

STILL WAITING FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS,

INCLUDING CHILDREN SO...

THAT JUST MADE ME ANGRY.

THIS CASE HAS BEEN IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF DEMONSTRATING

HOW INTRINSICALLY URGENT ISSUES OF DOCUMENTATION ARE.

EVEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO ACCESS DOCUMENTS,

IT IS THE DEPARTMENT STANDING IN THE WAY OF THEM GETTING THOSE DOCUMENTS.

IT'S THE SAD REALITY IN SOUTH AFRICA

THAT THE BUREAUCRATIC FAILURES AND BARRIERS

THAT STATE DEPARTMENTS PRESENT TO PEOPLE

WHO ARE LEGITIMATELY TRYING TO ACCESS SERVICES

DOES FORCE THEM TO THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE,

WHICH IS THE PATH OF CORRUPTION AND ILLEGALITY.

People go mad for this one.

Look, everyone was like, "Oh Thabo Bester."

AND HAVE YOU GUYS HAD A MOMENT

TO CRACK A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE TOGETHER OR A HIGH FIVE OR...

YES, WE DID, YESTERDAY IN THE OFFICE.

- YES. - AND MARECIA HAD A FEW COCKTAILS.

IT'S FAKE NEWS. FAKE NEWS.

AND SO DO YOU GUYS, DO YOU STILL LIKE EACH OTHER

AFTER THIS YEAR OF WORK TOGETHER?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "STILL"?

- DID WE EVER? - JA.

THAT'S THE QUESTION.

IT'S BEEN A LOT,

BUT I AM THANKFUL THAT THE BOOK IS FINALLY COMPLETED.

AND IT'S OUT THERE, AND IT'S IN STORES.

IT STILL FEELS A BIT SURREAL WHEN PEOPLE SEND ME PHOTOS OF BOOK STORES,

AND THEN I SEE THE THABO BESTER BOOK.

DID YOU GUYS THINK THAT YOU WOULD GET A BOOK DEAL

- BEFORE YOU TURNED 30? - NO.

ABSOLUTELY NOT. I HAD PLANNED TO WRITE A BOOK BY THE TIME I'M 70.

SO THAT I CAN SORT OF

DEPOSIT ALL OF MY WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE IN THAT BOOK.

I DID NOT EXPECT TO BE WRITING ANYTHING UNDER 30 AT ALL.

MARECIA AND DANIEL, THEY DID A VERY THOROUGH JOB.

THEY WENT AROUND CHECKING UP EVERY FACT BEFORE THE FIRST STORY APPEARED.

JA, I THINK GROUNDUP HAS DONE FANTASTIC WORK IN GENERAL

IN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM.

AND I THINK IN THIS PARTICULAR...

IT'LL BE REMEMBERED FOR THIS PARTICULAR STORY.

I THINK THIS STORY SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF WHISTLEBLOWERS

WORKING WITH MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA WHO THEY TRUST.

TO EXPOSE CORRUPTION AND INCOMPETENCE

IN THE GOVERNMENT AND IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

THE DEMOCRACY THAT WE HAVE

IS ANCHORED AROUND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

BUT PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY MEANS THE MEDIA.

- Slate one, take one. - Cool.

I THINK SOMETIMES PEOPLE PERCEIVE THE MEDIA

AS TRYING TO CATCH PEOPLE OUT.

JA, WELL THE MEDIA WOULD NEVER CATCH YOU UP

IF YOU'RE ON TOP OF YOUR STORY,

BECAUSE THE ISSUE'S ABOUT BEING STRAIGHT.

AT THE END, THE MEDIA PLAYS A ROLE OF EXPOSING THESE THINGS.

THE MEDIA CAN PUT THESE THINGS OUT THERE,

BUT THEY CAN'T ACTUALLY PUT THE CROOKS IN JAIL.

Today we'll start with G4S

who have been summoned to assist this process

to get to the bottom of this saga.

IT WAS A TWO-DAY SESSION

WHERE PARLIAMENTARIANS WERE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS.

FROM ALL THE STAKE HOLDERS INVOLVED.

THE POLICE, THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES,

AS WELL AS JICS.

THEY HAS TO BE FORCED, ALMOST KICKING AND SCREAMING,

BEFORE THE CORPORATION'S LEADERSHIP CAME, UNDER OATH,

TO SAY, "THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED."

Allow me to thank you for sending us the summons

that we asked for and making is possible for us to attend today.

Chair, we have the greatest respect

for this committee, and for its work.

And, chair, we have participated fully from the outset

with all investigative authorities.

IN THEIR REPORT THEY SAID THABO BESTER HAS DIED.

IN BLACK AND WHITE.

WE HAVE THE AUTOPSY REPORT AND THE CCTV FOOTAGE...

THAT'S A LIE. NO, NO, NO, IT'S A BALD-FACED LIE.

THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THAT YOU CAN CALL IT.

UNLESS YOU'VE HAD A, YOU KNOW, SERIOUS LOBOTOMY PROCEDURE

WHEN YOU WERE VERY YOUNG.

AND THEN I HAD TO ASK THEM...

DO YOU NOW BELIEVE THAT HE'S BEEN ARRESTED IN TANZANIA?

THEN THEY WOULD SAY, "YES, WE NOW BELIEVE."

SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE THIS CHAP WAS RESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD.

Mr Beyleveld, where's Thabo Bester?

According to the information that we have, he's now arrested.

Why did G4S cling to the version

that it was Thabo Bester's body in that cell?

Even after it was very clear

to everybody else in South Africa that it wasn't.

Just answer me that question.

Because we were not the primary investigating authority,

and we did not have access to the prime evidence, honourable member.

And that's your answer?

- Yes. - Wow.

IT JUST DEMONSTRATED A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND THAT WOULD THEN MEANT YOU NEED TO DIG MUCH DEEPER

ABOUT HOW THEY DO THINGS IN THAT PRISON.

Go to the cell, go to the cell.

Going towards cell 35.

We received an application from inmate Bester,

where he was applying to be kept in a single cell for his own safety.

And inmate Bester was placed in cell 35.

JA, I'M TOO OLD TO BELIEVE IN A CONFLUENCE OF COINCIDENCES.

BESTER WAS IN A CELL AT THE FURTHEST END OF THE PASSAGE FROM THE CAMERA.

YOU KNOW, AND SOMEBODY HAD TO BE MOVED OUT OF THAT CELL

TO ACCOMMODATE HIM IN THAT CELL, WHILE THERE WERE OTHER EMPTY CELLS.

And not to put too fine a point on it, and no pun intended,

it's right next to the fire escape.

What I'm not ruling out

is that certain members, together with Mr Bester,

carefully planned this event.

The best you can say is you don't rule out the possibility

that this was a well-planned, monumentally logistical operation.

I mean, I have a German Shepard puppy that can come to that conclusion.

The G4S f♪♪♪in' directors, and bosses, and whoever they were,

they didn't know what the f♪♪♪ hit them.

You don't think that it's part of your responsibility

to determine how a murderer and a serial rapist

walked out of your prison?

That's somebody else's responsibility? Get real.

G4S HAD EVERY REASON TO STONEWALL,

TO CLOSE IT'S EARS, TO CLOSE IT'S EYES, TO CLOSE IT'S MOUTH, AND WHY?

BECAUSE THAT ESCAPE, THAT SCANDALOUS EVENT, COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED

WITHOUT WIDESPREAD, PERVASIVE, OPERATIONAL-LEVEL,

AND MANAGERIAL-LEVEL COMPLICITY BY G4S OFFICERS.

It's impossible to believe that this whole operation could've taken place

without the greasing of many palms.

How many G4S employees were on duty at that facility that night?

THERE WE'RE MORE THAN 20 G4S OFFICERS ON DUTY THAT NIGHT.

NOW I THINK THE LIKELY INFERENCE IS THAT ALL OF THEM

WERE EITHER PAID OFF OR WARNED OFF OR TOLD, "LOOK AWAY."

It was 23, honourable member, that was on duty.

23 people had to look the other way?

Braai'ing, roasting over the coals.

So let's assume you agree with me now that Bester got out,

how did he get out?

Currently to say how he got out,

I don't think that's my purpose now.

The SAP are conducting the criminal investigation

and we do a due diligent investigation into the operations.

You honestly.. That's the answer to the question?

It's not your responsibility?

THEY SAID THEY HAD INVESTIGATED

AND FOUND THAT THREE OF THE PRISON WARDENS ON DUTY THAT NIGHT

DID NOT FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURES.

AND THEY WERE SUSPENDED AND THEN LATER DISMISSED.

Are you honestly sitting here this morning telling us

that this escape, of Hollywood proportions...

was done with the assistance of three people?

Is that what you're suggesting?

I'm not suggesting that, honourable member,

I'm saying that those are the individuals

who did not follow policy and procedure.

We suspended them and we dismissed them.

That's just simply not possible.

It had to have been so many more.

You had quite a field day, did you learn anything new?

The recording portion of the surveillance system...

was malfunctioning just over that period of the actual escape.

So on the 2nd of May, 2022,

from 21:38 until the 3rd of May,

the following day, just after 04:00,

the security cameras by the solitary confinement cell

that Thabo Bester was held in were completely turned off.

And they resumed operating and 04:10.

04:10! Bo! And the camera resumed operating. Ye?

Just that little slot and it didn't work?

You'll agree with me that that's not a coincidence.

Yes, that coincidence is strange.

It must stretch even your imagination.

- It does. - Yes, quite.

We keep footage for only seven days, video footage for only seven days,

so it's not possible for us to go back...

- Mm. - To the date that

- you mentioned. - But I assume,

and when something happens like a fire in a cell,

you keep that video footage.

- Correct. - Unfortunately,

in this case, there was none. Coincidently.

ONE OF THE PEOPLE ON DUTY AT THE PRISON WAS A CCTV TECHNICIAN

TEBOHO LIPHOLO, WHO WORKED FOR A COMPANY CALLED INTEGRITRON,

WHICH MAINTAINED THE CCTV SYSTEM AT THE PRISON.

THEIR INVESTIGATION REPORT DID NOT FIND ANYTHING

AGAINST TEBOHO LIPHOLO WHO LATER ADMITTED TO SWITCHING OFF

THE CCTV CAMERAS IN THE PRISON.

HE WAS ALLEGEDLY PROMISED R2.5 MILLION BY BESTER,

BUT ONLY RECEIVED R40,000 IN PAYMENT.

And just days prior to this incident,

a vehicle made an unauthorised entry into the prison facility, correct?

- That's correct. - How come? Why?

That's currently being investigated.

So how far have you got with your investigation? Tell us.

That's what you're here to do.

...to be coming into the prison facility

arrived with a wooden TV stand.

THEY USED IT TO SMUGGLE THE BODY IN,

THEY PUT IT IN THE WORKSHOP.

THE EXCUSE WAS IT HAD TO BE WORKED ON,

THAT'S WHY IT HAD TO COME IN.

Could a corpse have fitted into that TV stand?

- I think so, yeah. - Okay.

You are probably wondering how did Katlego end up in cell 35.

WHAT IS NOT THE TRUTH ABOUT MY SON.

IT WAS WHEN THEY WERE SAYING MY SON COLLAPSED IN CENTRAL PARK.

THE AMBULANCE CAME TO TOOK HIM, TOOK HIM TO HOSPITAL,

AND THEN HE WAS RECEIVED AS AN UNIDENTIFIED PERSON.

THAT'S WHERE IT MADE ME ANGRY.

MY SON IS KNOWN, HERE IN BLOEMFONTEIN,

ESPECIALLY SOCCER-LOVING PEOPLE.

KATLEGO WAS A NICE GUY. I KNEW HIM.

UNTIL AT THAT AGE OF 30-SOMETHING, YES.

HE WAS ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT CELTICS THIS, CELTICS THAT.

HE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN A FIGHT,

OR HEARING KATLEGO HAS BEEN ARRESTED, NO.

THAT IS, I'M GETTING EMOTIONAL WHEN TALKING ABOUT THIS THING.

JUST IMAGINE IF IT WAS YOUR SON, YOUR BROTHER.

THE FAMILY'S GRIEF IS ON PUBLIC DISPLAY

AS DETAILS ABOUT THE ELABORATE ESCAPE CONTINUE MAKING HEADLINES.

Katlego's family searched for an entire year for him,

and still, even after the confirmation of his death,

they're left with so many questions.

AT THE TIME OF THE INITIAL ARREST,

THERE WAS ONLY EARLY INDICATIONS OF A MURDER,

BUT THEN AS THE POLICE INVESTIGATION CONTINUED,

THESE CHARGES WERE LATER WITHDRAWN DUE TO A LACK OF EVIDENCE.

AT THE CENTRE OF EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED HERE

ARE THE ALLEGED VICTIMS

AND PEOPLE LIKE KATLEGO BERENG'S MOTHER AND FATHER

THAT ARE STILL LOOKING FOR ANSWERS.

It's fishy. It's fishy.

THEY THINK THERE'S MORE...

THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE UNVEILED REGARDING HIS DEATH.

When all of this happened,

who was the Manguang Correctional Centre director? Was it you?

Yes, honorary member, it was still me.

Everything happened under you?

- That's correct. - You are still the director there?

- Have you been dismissed? - No.

- Why? - No, I did not commit any misconduct.

When everything else happened under you?

- Yes. - Wow.

THIS IS NOT AN ESCAPE.

THIS IS A PROPERLY PLANNED, WELL-EXECUTED WALK OUT OF PRISON.

Department of Correctional Services

has served the private company managing the prison

with a notice that it will be terminating its contract.

This contract does not deserve any further day to continue.

- I would disagree with that. - Why?

Our track record over 22 years is a good track record given...

if compared to other private and public facilities.

This issue, before you respond,

it's a serious reputational risk,

not to DCS, to the country South Africa.

Here we go! Here the f♪♪♪ we go!

Here the f♪♪♪ we go!

Magudumana has been fighting for her freedom.

She claims she was abducted by state officials

and has attempted to have her arrest and deportation set aside.

She has the f♪♪♪ing audacity to say that her being extracted

from a country that she entered with illegal, forged documents

was unlawful.

Like, b♪♪♪♪, get the f♪♪♪ out of here.

A POSSIBLE REASON FOR NANDIPHA ABANDONING HER BAIL IS BECAUSE

IF SHE WERE TO TAKE BAIL, THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SEEN

AS HER AGREEING WITH THE CHARGES BROUGHT OUT AGAINST HER.

Stealing bodies,

freeing a man from prison who was a rapist and a murderer,

dumping the bodies that you took from morgues in a river.

Sit your ass down and go to jail forever.

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THEIR DEPORTATION,

BESTER AND DR NANDIPHA WERE REUNITED IN THE DOCK.

Ladies and gentleman, here's our Bonnie and Clyde.

Here's our Bonnie and Clyde.

CAMERAS ARE FLASHING, THERE'S A HUSHED SILENCE.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME WE SAW THEM TOGETHER IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE WORLD.

Some of us, we've never had our partners look at us

the way Nandipha looked at Thabo. Be honest.

This is giving, "I will live, breathe, die for you."

I mean, they already did the other crazy stuff

like steal dead bodies and break out of jail, but still!

THEY ROSE TO THE OCCASION.

THE STOLEN KISSES, THAT LOOK INTO EACH OTHER'S EYES,

THE HOLDING OF HANDS.

IT WAS AS IF WE WERE WATCHING AN EPISODE OF OUR FAVOURITE SOAP OPERA.

No criminal should be this happy and smitten in the court of law

while they face so many criminal charges. Uh-uh!

EVERYONE WANTED TO SEE

HOW THEY WERE GOING TO BEHAVE TOWARDS EACH OTHER,

AND I GUESS EVERYONE GOT MORE THAN WHAT THEY BARGAINED FOR,

BECAUSE WHATEVER YOU INTERPRET FROM WHAT YOU SAW...

IT CERTAINLY DID RAISE SOME EYEBROWS.

I've, personally, never seen a love like this.

Ooh, Nandi! Yoh!

How do we get that Bester level of love from the lady?

Yoh, bruh.

When we look at body language,

we look for fake smiles and real smiles.

There wasn't a real smile on her face, it was fake.

She's quite nervous.

Her arm came around her stomach,

now women do this to protect this bodies.

SHE WAS VERY WELL KEPT. RED LIPSTICK, HER HAIR WAS ALWAYS DONE.

EVERYONE WAS FROWNING UPON THAT BECAUSE MANY WERE ASKING,

"WHO'S DOING HER HAIR? WHY DO HER NAILS LOOK SO GOOD?

AH MY NAILS DON'T LOOK SO GOOD AND YET I'VE GOT MY FREEDOM OUTSIDE."

THOSE WERE THE SENTIMENTS THAT WERE BEING SHARED.

She looks very good for someone who is behind bars.

A LOT OF THE MEDIA WERE REPORTING ON

WHAT BESTER WAS WEARING DURING HIS COURT APPEARANCES,

AND WHAT NANDIPHA'S HAIR LOOKED LIKE, AND WHAT HER MAKEUP LOOKED LIKE.

AND ALTHOUGH THERE IS NOTHING INHERENTLY WRONG

WITH INCLUDING THOSE ELEMENTS IN YOUR REPORT,

THAT SHOULDN'T BE THE FOCUS.

INSTEAD, THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON

THE CRIMES THAT THEY WERE BEING ACCUSED OF.

WELL PEOPLE ACCUSED US OF SENSATIONALISING THE STORY,

WHICH, I THINK, WAS ABSOLUTE RUBBISH,

BECAUSE EVERYONE WAS ASKING, "WHERE WAS THIS LIFESTYLE COMING FROM?"

THE ALLEGATIONS THAT WERE BEING MADE,

AND THE EXTRAVAGANCE WHICH WAS ON PUBLIC DISPLAY FOR EVERYONE TO SEE,

TOLD A STORY ON ITS OWN.

Thabo Bester is demanding the return of valuables

estimated to be worth R29 million.

WHEN HE APPEARED IN COURT AFTER HIS RE-ARREST,

HE GAVE THE MAGISTRATE A LIST OF ASSETS

THAT HE SAID WAS TAKEN FROM HIM IN TANZANIA BY POLICE.

A Rolex O, R2.6 million, Two of those.

MILLIONS OF RANDS WORTH OF CASH, WATCHES, DESIGNER CLOTHES,

PHONES AND LAPTOPS,

WHICH, FIRSTLY, HE WOULD BE BREAKING SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL LAWS

BY CARRYING THOSE ASSETS OVER BORDERS ILLEGALLY.

SO HE'S INCRIMINATING HIMSELF, NOT THAT HE SEEMS TO CARE.

AND, SECONDLY, IT JUST SEEMS COMPLETELY UNBELIEVABLE.

WHAT IS STILL UNEXPLAINED

IS THE SOURCE OF HIS "APPARENT" WEALTH.

THEY WERE READY TO FLASH IT, QUITE PREPARED TO DISPLAY IT,

BUT NO ONE HAS QUITE CONNECTED ALL THE DOTS

ABOUT HOW ALL OF THIS WAS BEING FUNDED.

THE STORY ABOUT THE BILLIONS IN THE BANK

COMES FROM AN ARTICLE THAT WAS PUBLISHED...

QUOTING A LAWYER WHO WAS APPROACHED BY BESTER,

IN WHICH BESTER CLAIMED TO BE TOM MOTSEPE,

THE BROTHER OF THABO BESTER,

AND SAID THAT HE HAD BILLIONS IN ASSETS

THAT HAD BEEN TAKEN AWAY BY THE ASSET FORFEITURE UNIT,

AND THAT HE WANTED THIS LAWYER'S HELP

IN GETTING THIS MONEY AND THE ASSETS BACK FROM THE ASSET FORFEITURE UNIT

AND GIVING IT TO NANDIPHA MAGUDUMANA.

AND THEN THE LAWYER, OF COURSE, SAID,

"WELL ALL THESE DOCUMENTS THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED ARE FAKE,

SO I'M NOT GONNA TAKE YOUR CASE."

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE PICTURE

OF THABO BESTER AND JACOB ZUMA?

I'VE SEEN THAT PICTURE.

MAYBE JZ WAS SCAMMED BY THABO BESTER. MAYBE HE'S A VICTIM. WE DON'T KNOW.

THE JACOB ZUMA FOUNDATION HAS VEHEMENTLY DENIED

THAT ZUMA HAS EVER MET THABO BESTER.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT,

THABO BESTER HAS OBVIOUSLY WORMED HIS WAY

INTO SOUTH AFRICA'S RICH AND FAMOUS,

AND HE COULD'VE GONE TO HAVE A CUP OF TEA WITH JACOB ZUMA

TO PITCH A BUSINESS INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY.

AND DOES IT MATTER IF THAT PHOTO IS REAL OR NOT?

IT DOESN'T MATTER. IT DOESN'T MATTER.

I THINK ALL THAT MATTERS IS THAT IT'S OUT THERE.

IT'S WHAT IT REPRESENTS.

ONCE THAT IDEA SETS IN, IT'S ENOUGH TO BE PERSUASIVE TO PEOPLE.

JACOB ZUMA, HE WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS ABLE TO BUILD A BRAND

AND A CULT OF PERSONALITY AROUND HIM

AS AN EVERYMAN JUST TRYING TO RISE ABOVE ADVERSITY,

AND JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT TO THE TOP,

AND IN THAT PRESENTATION SAYING

THAT YOU TOO CAN ONE DAY BE IN THAT POSITION OF POWER AND INFLUENCE.

I THINK THABO BESTER WAS SOMEONE WHO CLOCKED THAT.

THERE'S ALWAYS AN ELEMENT OF ROMANTICISING CRIMINALS,

ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY GET AWAY WITH DARING ACTS.

SO THE MYTH-MAKING IS INEVITABLE,

BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THERE WERE VICTIMS HERE.

Magudumana will apply for bail.

Back in May she temporarily withdrew her bail bid.

WHEN SHE NOW DOES FINALLY DECIDE TO APPLY FOR BAIL,

SHE GIVES THE IMPRESSION

THAT SHE LEFT THE COUNTRY IN THE FIRST INSTANCE AGAINST HER WILL,

EVEN THOUGH THERE'S FOOTAGE THAT SHOWS HER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.

The question, so what was she doing in Tanzania

if they arrested her unlawfully?

Was she on holiday? Was she on honeymoon?

Definitely they were fleeing from the law.

THIS IS SOMEONE WHO SAYS THAT SHE WAS KIDNAPPED,

BUT DID YOU SEE HOW THEY BEHAVED TOWARDS EACH OTHER

IN COURT?

While she claims Bester kidnapped her,

the state alleges she's Bester's girlfriend

who lived with him for almost a year after facilitating his escape.

AND THEN NANDIPHA MAGUDUMANA...

WITH SOME CHUTZPAH, RELEASED A STATEMENT,

ADDRESSING IT TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

BUT REALLY, THE SENSE IS VERY CLEARLY HERE,

SHE'S ADDRESSING THE COUNTRY BECAUSE OF OUR FASCINATION WITH THE STORY.

SHE SPEAKS ABOUT HER ILLEGAL INCARCERATION,

AND THE CONVERSATIONS,

THE DEEP CONVERSATIONS SHE HAS WITH GOD EACH AND EVERY PASSING DAY.

SHE THANKS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ROOTING FOR HER, SUPPORTING HER,

AND EVEN PRAYING FOR HER.

SO FROM THE ONSET, SHE WANTS TO GIVE THIS IMPRESSION

OF THIS RIGHTEOUS WOMAN,

SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN IMPRISONED FOR SOME GREATER PURPOSE,

SOME GREATER CAUSE.

SHE SPEAKS TO HER CHILDREN DIRECTLY.

"MOMMY MISSES YOU. MOMMY LOVES YOU."

MOMMY IS FIGHTING WITH EVERYTHING SHE HAS TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN.

"I WILL SEE YOU AGAIN SOON," SHE SAYS.

You know, she came in court, you know, singing,

and pretending to be praying,

and stuff like that. This woman is a thug, bruh.

I find that the applicant is a definite flight risk,

and that no bail condition will assist under the circumstances

to limit this risk.

You think this is Hyde Park? Welcome to prison.

YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY TO SAY THIS,

BUT I HAVE TO SAY IT.

I'VE SAID SOMETIMES TO GO TO SCHOOL IS A WASTE OF MONEY.

DR NANDIPHA IS SO EDUCATED.

HER CALIBRE DOESN'T MATCH WITH THIS ONE OF THABO BESTER.

NOW I'M TALKING ABOUT AN EXPERIENCED DOCTOR.

SHE'S HAVING HER MONEY.

WHY SHE WAS TRICKED BY THABO BESTER?

I THINK, TO HER, IT FEELS LIKE I'M A JUDAS OF SOME SORT.

I'M A.. I BETRAYED HER.

AND THEY DO REALLY SAY LIKE,

"DUDE, SHE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HATES YOU."

BUT I WANTED THAT MONSTER BEHIND BARS.

I DECIDED THAT I WOULD GO TO COURT AND SUPPORT NANDIPHA.

SHE'S MY SISTER, AND SHE'S ONE OF US,

AND WE WERE RAISED TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER,

EVEN THOUGH THINGS MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST.

DO YOU THINK SHE WAS SURPRISED

TO SEE YOU SITTING THERE IN COURT?

PROBABLY. I THINK SHE WAS SURPRISED, YES.

SHE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT I WAS THERE. JA.

HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO YOUR FAMILY

ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THIS DOCUMENTARY?

I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO MY FAMILY ABOUT THIS DOCUMENTARY.

IT WILL BE A SHOCK TO THEM, AND...

THEY WILL TAKE IT HOW THEY TAKE IT.

AND, I MEAN, AS I'VE BEEN SPEAKING ON THIS PLATFORM WITH NOTHING TO HIDE.

THIS WHOLE STORY SEEMS TO ME

TO HAVE BEEN AN INTRICATE GAME OF CHESS.

WE KNOW THE QUEEN CAN MAKE ALL SORTS OF MOVES,

AND WAS IT NOT DR MAGUDUMANA WHO WAS FETCHING BODIES,

PLANNING ALL OF THIS?

SO THERE THEY WERE, THE KING AND THE QUEEN,

WITH ALL OF THESE LITTLE PAWNS,

WHO WERE, ULTIMATELY, DISPENSABLE, EXPENDABLE

IN THEIR LITTLE GAME OF CHESS.

The Thabo Bester escape saga is set to go on trial.

Nine people, including Bester, are facing a raft of charges.

OF THE ACCUSED WE HAVE THABO BESTER,

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE ARE ALL THESE OFFICIALS,

SOME OF WHOM WORKED FOR G4S, ALL OF THEM WORKING IN THAT FACILITY.

WE HAVE DR NANDIPHA...

HER FATHER...

THEN WE HAVE HER GARDNER.

THE LIST OF CHARGES IS QUITE SERIOUS.

BESTER PROBABLY HAS THE LEAST TO LOSE

OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE DOCK, 'CAUSE HE'S ALREADY IN PRISON.

MAGUDUMANA HAS SUFFERED GREAT REPUTATIONAL DAMAGE

FROM THIS WHOLE AFFAIR.

HELPING A PRISONER ESCAPE CAN LAND YOU IN JAIL FOR 15 YEARS.

THE CORRUPTIONS CHARGES ARE BASED NOT ON THE AMOUNT THEY PAID,

BUT ON THE AMOUNT THEY PROMISED.

SO IF SHE'S CONVICTED OF THE CRIMES,

MAGUDUMANA FACES A LONG TIME IN PRISON.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE COME OUT OF THE TRIAL?

WELL I THINK JUST FOR THE ACTUAL TRUTH TO COME OUT,

BECAUSE THERE ARE STILL SO MANY QUESTIONS.

QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE,

QUESTIONS THAT OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE MEDIA HAVE,

THAT THE BROADER PUBLIC STILL HAS,

REGARDING HOW EXACTLY WAS THIS ABLE TO TAKE PLACE.

I'D LIKE TO SEE A PROPER INVESTIGATION DONE

WITH A PROPER PROSECUTION, EVIDENCE-LED.

I'D LIKE TO SEE GOOD CROSS-EXAMINATION

TO ANNIHILATE BESTER AND NANDIPHA, BECAUSE THEY'RE TALKING CRAP.

SO CERTAINLY THE ANSWERS ARE OWED TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN PUBLIC.

IT'S NOT JUT A STORY THAT'S SENSATIONAL,

IT'S, LIKE, ALSO IN MY BRAIN I'M GOING THROUGH,

"WHAT IS..? WHAT ARE WE LIVING IN? WHAT HAS OUR COUNTRY COME TO?

WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?"

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THABO BESTER NOW?

I'll ALWAYS HATE THABO BESTER. I'll ALWAYS HATE HIM.

I HATE WHAT HE'S DONE TO MANY FAMILIES,

NOT JUST MY FAMILY.

THE VICTIMS OF THE SHENANIGANS HE WAS INVOLVED IN.

I'M NOT THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO GOES AROUND HATING PEOPLE, I LOVE PEOPLE,

BUT I DON'T THINK HE'S A PERSON.

AND I HOPE.. NO MATTER WHATEVER HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE,

HE'LL NEVER BE RELEASED FROM CUSTODY.

HE'LL DIE IN JAIL. HE DESERVES TO DIE IN JAIL. MM.

Thabo Bester, Dr Nandipha trial is gonna be, like, everywhere.

It must have the same commentators who do Xhosa commentary for rugby.