PHOTO: Becker Semela, GroundUp
Convicted rapist and murderer Bester, who was serving his sentence at the Mangaung Correctional Centre in the Free State, managed to escape in 2022 after staging his own death.They're currently facing charges linked to the escape.In May, the Department of Correctional Services issued Bloemfontein Correctional Contracts , the company which held the tender to manage the prison, with a 90-day termination notice, which expires at the end of July.
Just days before the termination took effect, the BCC approached the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria in a bid to obtain an urgent interdict against the minister of justice and correctional services. However, before that application is entertained, the parties have agreed to take part in a mediation process, which was made an order of court on Thursday.
In the event that mediation fails to resolve the disputes by 31 August 2023, the parties agreed to set down the application for argument in September. While a legal fight is looming, Bester and his co-accused are still before the preliminary courts and their trial is yet to begin.