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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The case of a G4S security guard accused of helping Thabo Bester escape from Mangaung prison has been postponed for bail application.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Motanyane John Masukela, 51, appeared briefly in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Thursday. The case is to be heard on 3 and 4 May.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He faces charges of aiding an escape and defeating the ends of justice.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Masukela had no lawyer and told the court that he will need legal assistance from Legal Aid South Africa.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prosecutor Sello Matlhoko suggested Masukela appear with Nandipha Magudumana, Senohe Matsoara, a former G4S security guard at the prison, and Teboho Lipholo, a former employee of Integritron, the company that maintains the surveillance cameras in the prison.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-04-12-damning-timeline-government-knew-of-thabo-bester-escape-as-early-as-october-2022-but-failed-to-act/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Damning timeline — Government knew of Thabo Bester escape as early as October 2022 but failed to act</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Magistrate Mohlolo Kgabisi said the quartet will be applying for bail at the May hearing.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-04-17-thabo-bester-saga-nandipha-magudumana-accomplices-remain-behind-bars-while-father-granted-bail/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Magudumana’s father Zolile Sekeleni who was granted bail</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on Monday will appear with Bester on 16 May. </span><b>DM</b>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1655781\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/g4sprison-bs-20230420.jpg\" alt=\"Mangaung Correctional Centre, Thabo Bester\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" /> Mangaung Correctional Centre is a maximum security prison managed and part-owned by multinational security company G4S. (Photo: Becker Semela)</p>\r\n\r\n<em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First published by </span><a href=\"https://www.groundup.org.za/article/thabo-bester-escape-g4s-guard-in-court/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GroundUp</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span></em>",
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Mangaung Correctional Centre is a maximum security prison managed and part-owned by multinational security company G4S. (Photo: Becker Semela)