Thabo Bester is a convicted rapist and murderer in South Africa who gained notoriety as the “Facebook rapist” for using the social media platform to lure his victims. He was originally arrested and sentenced for fraud under the name Thabo Magagulu in Johannesburg. Bester was released on parole in 2011 but was later imprisoned again for the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl in 2013.
In May 2022, the Department of Correctional Services reported that Bester had been found dead in his cell at the Mangaung private prison in Bloemfontein. However, subsequent investigations have revealed that Bester had escaped from prison and his death was staged. Bester had been running a construction company scam with celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana while on the run.
Bester’s escape from prison and subsequent disappearance have caused alarm and concern, with the Correctional Services Department intensifying their search for him. The investigation into Bester’s escape and staged death are ongoing.
It is important to note that Bester’s crimes were heinous and caused lasting harm to his victims and their families. It is essential to prioritize their well-being and support them through any ongoing legal processes.
Table of Contents
Birthplace, Age, DOB, Education
Thabo Bester: There are conflicting reports about Thabo’sage and birthdate. According to some sources, he was born on November 5, 1979, which would make him 42 years old at the time of his reported death in May 2022. However, other sources suggest that he was born in 1988, which would make him 33 years old at the time of his reported death. His birthplace is unknown, and there is no information available about his education.
Wiki/Bio (Height)
Real Name | Thabo Bester’ |
Height | 1.68 meter |
Age | 46 years old (as of 2022) |
DOB | November 5, 1979, (unconfirmed) |
Birthplace | South Africa |
Net Worth | N/A |
Family | Unknown |
Education | Unknown |
Wife Name | Dr. Nandipha Magudumana (unconfirmed) |
Reference Link | Click here |
Homepage | Click here |
Family
There is limited information on the family of Thabo Bester, the convicted rapist who escaped from the Mangaung maximum-security prison earlier this year. However, it is known that his parents are educators, and they supported him from a young age and wanted to give him a good education.
There is no information on whether Thabo has any siblings, including sisters or brothers. However, one of the articles mentioned a brother to a celebrity doctor, Nandipha Magudumana, who is linked to Bester, but he denied knowing the escaped murderer.
Overall there is very limited information on Thabo’s family, and no specific details have been reported about his siblings or any other family members.
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Girlfriend, Daughter
According to news reports, Thabo Bester, also known as the “Facebook Rapist,” was convicted of murder and two counts of rape after luring women through Facebook. There is no information available on whether Bester was married or not. However, several news reports mention his girlfriend, Dr. Nandipha Magudumana, who is a celebrity doctor in South Africa.
It has been reported that Bester and Magudumana were involved in a scam construction company called “Arum Properties,” in which they convinced several people to pay millions of rands for construction projects but never delivered the goods. Some of their clients told GroundUp that soon after signing on, they realized they had been scammed.
Bester was thought to have died in a fire in his prison cell at Mangaung private prison in May 2022, but later he was spotted alive in Sandton, Johannesburg with Magudumana and her daughter in June 2022. It has also been reported that Magudumana had abandoned their rented mansion after Bester’s escape from prison.
It should be noted that there is no mention of Bester being married or having a wife, but several news reports are mentioning his girlfriend, Dr. Nandipha Magudumana, with whom he was allegedly involved in a scam construction company.
Story, Arrest, Jail, Death
Thabo Bester is a convicted rapist and murderer who has made headlines in South Africa recently for his daring escape from a maximum-security prison in the Free State province. Bester had been serving a life sentence after being found guilty of murder and two counts of rape. He lured his victims via Facebook.
On 3 May 2022, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) reported that Bester had been found dead in his cell at the Mangaung private prison in Bloemfontein. A mattress had been set alight in the cell in which Bester had been isolated, and a body was found beneath, burned beyond recognition. However, it has now been revealed that Bester faked his death in the prison fire and escaped from custody. Police in South Africa have launched a manhunt to find him.
Bester had a history of criminal activity before his conviction for rape and murder. In 2009, he was found guilty of fraud and sentenced to six years in prison. Bester was reportedly living under the name Katlego Tom “TK” Motsepe Nkwana before he escaped from prison.
The Department of Correctional Services has urged anyone with information about Bester’s whereabouts to come forward, as they consider him to be a dangerous criminal. It is unclear what his next move might be or where he might be headed. The police have warned the public not to approach Bester if they see him, but to call emergency services immediately.
Net Worth, Business
While there is no reliable information about Thabo Bester’s net worth, recent reports suggest that he had been running a scam construction company called Arum Properties with celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana. The couple allegedly convinced several people to pay millions of rand for construction projects but never delivered the goods. They reportedly made millions of rand from the scam. However, it is important to note that Bester’s net worth was likely very insignificant compared to the harm he caused to his victims and their families.
Lesser Known Facts About Thabo Bester
- He was first arrested in 2011 for the rape of two women in hotel rooms, whom he had lured on Facebook.
- Bester was also convicted of murdering one of his victims, Nomfundo Tyulu, whose body was found in his apartment in 2011.
- He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012 for rape and murder.
- Bester escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Centre, a maximum-security prison operated by G4S, in December 2022.
- He was initially reported to have set himself on fire and died in his cell at the Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022
- However, in a bizarre turn of events, Bester was spotted shopping at Sandton City mall in July 2022, two months after his supposed death.
- The South African Department of Correctional Services has since admitted that Bester had indeed escaped from prison.
- The charred remains found in the cell that Bester escaped from showed signs of blunt force trauma sustained before the fire, although the identity of the body found is unknown
- Bester’s alleged partner, Dr. Nandipha Magudumana, a medical doctor who was suspended from practicing, has been linked to him and is believed to be on the run with him.
- The Health Professions Council of South Africa has suspended Dr. Magudumana from practicing “in terms of Section 19A(1)(b) of the Health Professions Act.”
- The South African Police Service and the Department of Correctional Services have launched a manhunt for Bester and Dr. Magudumana