Officials set to head to Tanzania to facilitate Bester's deportation
Senior officials from the police and justice department are expected in Tanzania on Sunday to facilitate the return of fugitive Thabo Bester to South Africa.
Bester escaped from a Mangaung prison last year and led officials to believe he had died in a fire that broke out in his cell.
At a briefing in Pretoria on Saturday, Police Minister Bheki Cele confirmed the convicted murderer and rapist and Nandipha Magudumana, who is believed to be his girlfriend, were caught in the East African country.
"They were found, they were spotted by the people that are working with South Africa, and they were followed as they leave the hotel in this black SUV and they were heading for the border of the other country. They were leaving Dar es Salaam and they were followed until they were found in Arusha. It was also discovered there, that they have several passports with different names," Cele said.
It is understood they were on their way to Kenya, with the help of a Mozambican national.
Justice Minister Ronald Lamola says officials in Tanzania are helping to help bring them back.
"I've also had a telephone discussion and call with the minister of justice in Tanzania, who has confirmed to us of their cooperation and willingness to help in the process to bring them to South Africa as speedily as possible.”
Lamola says it will be a straight deportation case for Bester who will be brought back to serve his life sentence.
"Extradition is what we are dealing with in the case of the Gupta brothers and Bushiri matters. Those have been charged in our courts. They must undergo trial in South Africa," Lamola said.
"The difference with the Bester matter, he has already been charged and convicted and escaped from prison. It becomes a clear case of deportation."
