Thabo Bester

Thabo Bester (born 13 June 1986)[4] is a convicted criminal who escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in South Africa after faking his death in 2022.[5][6] He was on the run for almost a year before being caught in Arusha, Tanzania on 8 April 2023.[7] He was arrested along with his partner Dr. Nandipha Magudumana.[8] Bester was known as the "Facebook rapist" and was convicted of rape and murder.

Thabo Bester
Born (1986-06-13) 13 June 1986
Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Other namesTom Motsepe
TK Nkwana
Katlego Tom Motsepe Nkwana
William Kelly
Known for
Height170 cm (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment (sentenced in 2012)
Reward amount
R100 000 (Fidelity ADT)
Capture status
Arrested
Wanted by
South African Police Service
Department of Correctional Services
Time at large
11 months
Escaped3 May 2022[2]
Escape end8 April 2023[3]
Imprisoned atKgosi Mampuru II Management Area

History

Bester became infamous for his criminal activities and con artistry.[9] While imprisoned, he ran a scam construction company called Arum Properties with Magudumana, convincing several people to pay millions of rand for construction projects but never delivered the goods.[10][11]

He was believed to have died by self-immolation in his prison cell in May 2022 and was at large for a year until a new post-mortem investigation revealed that the burnt body found in his cell was not his. Following this revelation, a manhunt was launched in March 2023.[9]

Before his incarceration, he had been found guilty of several crimes, including murder and rape charges committed against women he had met via Facebook. He was convicted in 2012 for assaulting and killing Nomfundo Tyhulu, his model girlfriend. In 2011, he was found guilty of robbing and raping two other women. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.[9]

Citizenship

Bester was never officially documented as a South African citizen with the Department of Home Affairs. Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi said that when Bester was caught in Tanzania in April 2023, he was found in possession of an American passport under the guise of Tom Williams Kelly. Motsoaledi said the lack of documentation was due to issues around Bester's complicated upbringing, and that his mother, Maria Mabaso, was never able to register Bester after giving birth to him at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital on 13 June 1986.[12]

Escape from prison

Bester escaped from Mangaung Correctional Services on 3 May 2022 after faking his death by placing a body in his jail cell and setting it alight.

The escape came to light following a series of articles published by nonprofit news site GroundUp which cast doubt on Bester's supposed prison death but had likely escaped.[13] In March 2023, Police Minister Bheki Cele reported that the charred body found in Bester's prison cell was not a DNA match for him.[14] It was later confirmed in April 2023 that the burnt body was that of Katlego Bereng Mpholo who had gone missing in April 2022.[15]

Private security firm, Fidelity, took to Facebook to offer a R100,000 award for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of Bester.[16]

References
  1. Swarthout, Iris. "G4S provides obscure answers on Bester prison escape to convince irate MPs". City Press. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  2. Steyn, Marecia Damons and Daniel. "Did the Facebook rapist die in his cell? Or did he escape from prison?". News24. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  3. "Escapee Thabo Bester arrested in Tanzania". Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. 13 April 2023.
  4. Lekabe, Thapelo (14 April 2023). "Thabo Bester was born in SA, but not registered with Home Affairs – Motsoaledi". The Citizen.
  5. Thabo Bester: South Africa's 'Facebook rapist' deported from Tanzania (yahoo.com)
  6. Who is Thabo Bester? Everything to know about the South African fugitive - Briefly.co.za
  7. Fihlani, Pumza (12 April 2023). "Thabo Bester: South Africa celebrity doctor's father charged over rapist's escape". BBC News. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  8. Thabo Bester: A timeline of what you need to know, from escape to re-arrest (ewn.co.za)
  9. "Who was Thabo Bester".
  10. Thabo Bester: 'Facebook rapist' who faked death arrested in Tanzania - BBC News
  11. Thabo Bester, Nandipha Magudumana made millions from construction company scam | News24
  12. "THABO BESTER NEVER REGISTERED AS AN SA CITIZEN WITH HOME AFFAIRS".
  13. Damons, Marecia (8 November 2022). "Many mysteries surround the death of 'Facebook rapist' Thabo Bester". GroundUp. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  14. Molefe, Seeletsa (17 March 2023). "Cele says DNA 'doesn't seem to match' Facebook rapist as Correctional Services remains mum". The Citizen. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  15. "Thabo Bester: Body used in South African rapist's prison break identified". BBC News. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  16. Patrick, Alex; Panchia, Yeshiel (30 March 2023). "Private security firm offers R100 000 reward for information on Thabo Bester". News24. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
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