Thabo Bester, previously convicted of murder and sexual assault, is slated for a pre-trial conference at the High Court of Free State. Known infamously as the “Facebook rapist,” Bester’s court appearance will see him joined by nine individuals accused of assisting in his dramatic escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre on May 3, 2022.
Among those implicated in aiding Bester’s flight are Dr. Nandipha Magudumana, identified as Bester’s romantic partner, and her father, Zolile Cornelius Sekeleni. The charges they face include fraud, corruption, aiding and abetting a convict, corpse desecration, obstructing the course of justice, and arson.
Dr. Sathasivan “Saths” Cooper, a clinical psychologist, emphasized the necessity for the prosecution to construct an airtight case, cautioning that any oversight would be aggressively leveraged by the defense. Cooper remarked on the manipulative nature of Bester and Magudumana, noting their apparent lack of empathy and readiness to employ deception.
Bester, alongside Magudumana, was apprehended in Arusha, Tanzania, in April 2023, after evading South African authorities. This followed Bester’s escape from the G4S-operated Mangaung Correctional Facility, where he was serving a sentence for the murder of Nomfundo Tiyhulu, as adjudicated by the Western Cape High Court.
Despite prior assertions of his death in a cell fire in March 2022, Bester was later sighted in Sandton. Investigations uncovered that Katleho Bereng’s body was used as a decoy in Bester’s cell to facilitate his escape.
Since their capture, Bester, Magudumana, and their co-accused have made multiple court appearances. Presently, Bester is detained at Kgosi Mampuru II prison in Pretoria, with Magudumana held at the Bizzah Makhate Correctional Centre in Kroonstad.
The unfolding legal proceedings against Bester and his associates highlight a complex web of deceit and manipulation, underscoring the importance of vigilance and thoroughness in the justice system to prevent exploitation by those willing to circumvent the law for their gain.
