Cape Town – Justice Minister Ronald Lamola has confirmed that fugitive also known as ‘Facebook rapist’ Thabo Bester, was arrested in Tanzania on Friday.
Lamola said during a press briefing that Bester was arrested together with his “accomplice”, socialite-doctor Nandipha Magudumana and a Mozambican national.
“The Minister of Police and the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services can confirm that escapee, Mr Thabo Bester….with his accomplice, also known as Dr Nandipha Magudumana, along with a Mozambican national, have been arrested in Tanzania late last night,” Justice Minister Ronald Lamola said.
Lamola said he had had a telephone conversation with his counterpart in Tanzania who “” confirmed to us their cooperation and willingness to help to bring them to South Africa as speedily as possible”.
[Watch] Minister of @SAPoliceService, General Bheki Cele & @DOJCD_ZA Minister, Ronald Lamola update the nation on the progress of the manhunt of convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester, who escaped from custody at the Mangaung Correctional Facility. https://t.co/8vU9jnc3Kr
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) April 8, 2023
Bester escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein in May last year.
It was initially believed that he died in a fire in his cell, but DNA tests later confirmed that the body was not that of Bester.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
JUST IN | Thabo Bester re-arrested in Tanzania – reports
Cape Town – Facebook rapist and murderer Thabo Bester has been re-arrested in Tanzania, unconfirmed reports said on Saturday.
He was apprehended on Friday.
National police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe could not confirm or deny the reports, Times Live said.
“The national commissioner will brief the nation on any progress relating to this. I am not confirming or denying anything,” the report quoted Mathe as saying.
Bester was sentenced to life in prison in 2012 for the murder of one woman and rape of two models before he was reportedly found dead in his single cell in May last year.
He escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Centre on May 3, 2022, as confirmed by the department of correctional services after it discovered that the burned body found in Bester’s cell was not the “Facebook rapist” but that of an unknown man.
His escape became public only last month.
Police Minister Bheki Cele said this week that there may be a breakthrough soon in the case of Bester.
Speaking on eNCA’s Power to Truth, Cele said police were “getting good close”.
“We will find Bester, we are getting good news. I had people yesterday trying to ridicule police when we raided his house.
“Sometimes, people don’t understand investigations, things, clues that we get there,” Cele said.
Asked if he could confirm if Bester was in Tanzania, Cele said: “Not me, maybe the home affairs and Acsa can confirm that one.
“What I know is I am trying to find Bester,” Cele said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
