The National Prosecuting Authority dropped a murder prosecution against the father of disgraced celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana on Monday.
Zolile Cornelius Sekeleni, 65, appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court with his daughter and two others.
They are accused of assisting convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester in escaping the maximum security Mangaung Correctional Centre.
Bester was serving a life sentence during his daring escape in May 2022.
The ruse involves his cell catching fire and a burnt body - thought to be his - being discovered.
In Sekeleni's first court appearance last week, the court accused him and a former G4s employee, Senohe Matsoara, of murder concerning the burnt body discovered in Bester's cell.
Bester is accused of escaping with the assistance of his girlfriend Magudumana, her father Sekeleni, a jail official, and a camera installation, all of whom have been prosecuted.
In the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court, Sekeleni was granted R10,000 bail.
Magudumana and Sekeleni sat beside each other as she waved and kissed her tearful mother and other family members.
Magudumana hid her face under a mask, and the hood of her jacket, but state prosecutor advocate Sello Matlhoko insisted on seeing her face to identify her.
Her legal representation, attorney Themba Diba, questioned the need for her to expose her identity, but Magistrate Motlholo Khabisi ruled in favor of the State, ordering the big reveal.
Matlhoko said that the State would not oppose Sekeleni's bail and that he and the State had agreed on an R10,000 bond sum.
An emotional Sekeleni was notified that he does not need to appear in court on 3 May 2023, when Magudumana and others ask for bail.
Zolile Cornelius Sekeleni, 65, appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court with his daughter and two others.
They are accused of assisting convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester in escaping the maximum security Mangaung Correctional Centre.
Bester was serving a life sentence during his daring escape in May 2022.
The ruse involves his cell catching fire and a burnt body - thought to be his - being discovered.
In Sekeleni's first court appearance last week, the court accused him and a former G4s employee, Senohe Matsoara, of murder concerning the burnt body discovered in Bester's cell.
Bester is accused of escaping with the assistance of his girlfriend Magudumana, her father Sekeleni, a jail official, and a camera installation, all of whom have been prosecuted.
In the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court, Sekeleni was granted R10,000 bail.
Magudumana and Sekeleni sat beside each other as she waved and kissed her tearful mother and other family members.
Magudumana hid her face under a mask, and the hood of her jacket, but state prosecutor advocate Sello Matlhoko insisted on seeing her face to identify her.
Her legal representation, attorney Themba Diba, questioned the need for her to expose her identity, but Magistrate Motlholo Khabisi ruled in favor of the State, ordering the big reveal.
Matlhoko said that the State would not oppose Sekeleni's bail and that he and the State had agreed on an R10,000 bond sum.
An emotional Sekeleni was notified that he does not need to appear in court on 3 May 2023, when Magudumana and others ask for bail.
SOURCE: Eye Witness News
