Thabo Bester: State drops charges against three accused
Charges have been dropped against three of the accused in the Thabo Bester prison escape case.
Most of the accused, including Bester, were back in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
Bester's alleged accomplice, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, was not in the dock after she allegedly fainted in the holding cells.
During proceedings, the State confirmed it was withdrawing charges against three of the 12 suspects accused of helping Bester break out of a maximum security prison last year.
READ: State to declare state of readiness for Bester trial
"The following accused, Natasha Jansen, [Thabang] Mier, and [Moeketsi] Ramolula, I am drawing the case against these three accused."
The court also heard Bester had also added two counsel to his legal team, advocates Dali Mpofu and Zandile Mshololo.
The pre-trial date has been set for the end of January.
