Bloemfontein Celtic Supporters Club says they will go out in their numbers to the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court to convince the court not to grant bail to the accused in the Thabo Bester escape saga.
Five accused, including four G4S employees, will continue applying for bail on Friday.
The defense submitted that it cannot be right that the accused be denied bail due to some individuals from the Bloemfontein Celtic Supporters Club.
Legal representative Tshotlego Makamedi for accused No.3, Teboho Lipholo argued that it is misleading that the state witness evidence stressed that there will be unrest if the accused are granted bail.
The national chairperson of Bloemfontein Celtic Supporters Club Mabena Pule has reiterated that bail should be denied.
“Maybe he wants us to go and crowd the court, and we don’t want to do that, basically what we said, we are thinking that our voice says a lot about us. We are saying they must not be granted bail, he is thinking that he will go out and then everybody will give him a win. The community as well is not happy about what has happened, remember they took the life of someone else who is a father to two kids.”
Thabo Bester Saga | Update on bail application by the accused: Chriselda Lewis
‘Facilities still very secure’
On Thursday Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola said despite the negative image his department has gained, especially with the escape of Thabo Bester from the Mangaung Correctional Centre, their facilities are still very secure.
He said the department does not have porous correctional centers synonymous with escapes. Lamola stated that the Mangaung Correctional Centre is in the process of being taken over from G4S.
The contract with the company to run the Kutama Sinthumule in Limpopo will not be renewed when it ends in two years’ time.
“In the last financial year, out of an inmate population of 157 000, a total of 27 inmates escaped, representing 0,017 %. We do acknowledge that one escape is one too many and we do continue to work towards strengthening our security and adherence to standard operating procedures.”
Thabo Bester Saga | Bloemfontein Celtics supporters call for no bail for the accused:
