By: Natasha Archary
Katlego Bereng’s family is seeking legal action against the Free State Department of Health, Department of Correctional Services and G4S, the security company that managed the private Mangaung Correctional Centre.
This after the 32-year old’s burnt remains were found in the prison cell of convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester in May 2022.
Bereng went missing in March 2022, and his family only found out that it was their son’s body that was used as a decoy in Bester’s elaborate prison escape in May 2023.
Almost a year since learning that their son, Katlego Bereng’s burnt body was found in the prison cell of convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester, the family is still searching for answers.
Bereng’s family say their son was not a convicted criminal, and they do not believe the State alleging that Bereng collapsed at a taxi rank.
In an interview with eNCA, Bereng’s father firmly believes that his son was mercilessly killed by those who were involved in Bester’s prison escape and he is demanding answers.
“From our understanding, our son went out on that particular day with friends to go have fun, and then along the lines one of the people he was with, someone he regarded as a friend is one of the people who kidnapped my son, killed my son and two days later took my son’s body to the prison and then his body was used.
The reason I’m saying this is because the family went to every place, every government mortuary, every hospital looking for him and nobody knew about him which is true because my son only entered the government mortuary when his body was not physically identifiable.”
Katlego Bereng’s father in an interview with eNCA
Katlego Bereng’s father strongly believes that one of the G4S employees who is one of 9 co-accused in the Bester case, was the one who betrayed and killed his son.
The heartbroken father says his family has been left devastated by the manner in which his son’s body was desecrated, and it’s a pain they would not wish on anyone.
Bester, his lover Dr Nandipha Maguduman and seven others, including the doctor’s father Zolile Cornelius Sekeleni will be back in court on 05 June 2024 for their pretrial.
Dr Nandipha, who is facing a slew of charges including tampering with dead bodies and assisting a convicted rapist and murderer from escaping lawful custody, claimed she was abducted/kidnapped by South African officials from Tanzania.
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