By: Natasha Archary

Forking out R1.4 million on a private jet to haul Thabo Bester and Dr Nandipha back to South Africa was the cheapest option.
This according to Police Minister Bheki Cele and Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi who were asked about the cost implications involved in bringing the wanted fugitives back home.
Both Motsoaledi and Cele said the chartered flight which accommodated 14 officials who travelled to Tanzania to repatriate Bester and Dr Nandipha was the cheapest, and safest option for all involved.
Speaking in Parliament, Motsoaledi said spending R1.4 million on a private jet was a small price to pay, and said the costs would be split three ways, together with the Department of Correctional Services and the South African Police Service.
Motsoaledi said that Bester and Dr Nandipha were not extradited but rather, deported by Tanzanian authorities back to South Africa.
Because the processes are different, Tanzanian authorities would only hand Bester and Dr Nandipha over to immigration personnel and no one else.
“Deportation was opted for, not extradition or any other system. When a person is deported to their country of origin, they are only handed over to immigration officials of that country, and not any other authorities.
The Tanzanians were not prepared to hand Bester over to police.”
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi
As a result, a delegation of 14 Home Affairs officials were tasked with the responsibility of repatriating both the Facebook rapist and his alleged accomplice, Dr Nandipha.
Commercial flight would have taken too long
During the Parliamentary Committee Hearing, Shadow Minister of Justice Glynnis Breytenbach asked Bheki Cele to explain why a private jet at the expense of the taxpayer was opted for.
“Chairperson, simply put it was part of the negotiations with the officials on the other side, that it would be their pleasure if it was done, the way it was done. So, we had to respect those negotiations.”
Police Minister Bheki Cele
NowInSA News: in issues about why Thabo Bester and Dr. Nandipha were chartered in a private jet. Another fiery exchange between Glynnis Breytenbach and Bheki Cele
— NOWinSA (@NowInSA) April 13, 2023
🧑🏻🦳it's a yes or no answer?
👮🏿♂️NO! I'm not going to answer that way
🧑🏻🦳Then don't Answer.
👮🏿♂️ absolutely not in court https://t.co/9iUAgNCiF0 pic.twitter.com/oxxUzFUDsK
Aaron Motsoaledi further said that it would have been careless to transport Bester and Dr Nandipha commercially, because it would have required hiring minibuses to drive 600km from Dar-Es-Salaam to Arusha and back.
The private jet was chosen from the Treasury’s database and the “cheapest flight”, costing R1.4 million was selected.
Also read: Dr Nandipha confirms her identity in court



