Thabo Bester Escapes Again And Stayed Next To Ramaphosa.
A property in Hyde Park, Johannesburg, that was previously used by escaped rapist and murderer Thabo Bester as a base of operation, has gone back on the market. The couple who had been living there, Bester and his girlfriend Nandipha Magudumana, left the plush property two weeks ago after reports emerged about Bester’s escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein on May 3, 2022. Police and forensic investigators were seen entering the property on Tuesday in search of evidence that Bester is still alive. However, the forensics team arrived too late, as the property had already been cleaned and repainted. The property is now available for rent at a monthly cost of R65,000 and includes five large bedrooms, a tennis court and a pool. Magudumana, a suspended doctor, reportedly bought a R1.35 million Mercedes-Benz last year and then abandoned it on the Zimbabwean side of the border, owing approximately R700,000.
According to The Citizen, footage obtained from a private investigator shows Magudumana crossing the border in January and then returning to South Africa on foot before being picked up at a garage. The report also quoted footage from two months ago in which Magudumana admitted to defaulting on the car payments and claimed that a third party was involved in the agreement with the dealership and would make a new agreement. She said that her aesthetic medical clinic in Sandton, Johannesburg, was struggling financially.
Bester, who was known as the “Facebook rapist” for using the social media platform to lure his victims, pleaded guilty to two charges of rape and one of murder in separate trials in 2011 and 2012 and was sentenced to an effective life term in prison. He had escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022, and it was initially believed that he had died in a fire in his cell. However, it later emerged that he had set a body alight in his cell to make it appear as though he had died and then escaped.
Although it is known that Bester lived in the Hyde Park home with Magudumana under the name “TK Nkwana,” police require concrete evidence to prove beyond doubt that it was indeed Bester. The authorities were also said to be searching for the couple’s employee, who had not been seen since they fled. Both the owners of the property and the realtor leasing it said that they had been honest with potential tenants about who had lived in the house previously and the possibility of police returning to the property.
In summary, the property that was used as a base by escaped rapist and murderer Thabo Bester and his girlfriend Nandipha Magudumana is now back on the market for rent. The authorities were seen entering the property in search of evidence that Bester is still alive, but they arrived too late as the property had already been cleaned and repainted. Magudumana, a suspended doctor, reportedly abandoned a luxury car in Zimbabwe after defaulting on the payments. Bester was known as the “Facebook rapist” and had escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022 by setting a body alight in his cell to make it appear as though he had died.
In addition to the raid on the Hyde Park property, it was reported that the police had also conducted raids at several properties in Gauteng and Limpopo that were linked to Bester and Magudumana. However, no arrests were made during the raids.
Bester’s escape has caused concern among members of the public and authorities, with many questioning how he was able to escape from a maximum-security prison. It was later revealed that several prison officials had been suspended and faced disciplinary action for their role in Bester’s escape.
The fact that potential tenants were already viewing the Hyde Park property so soon after the police raid raises questions about the safety and security of the area. The property is located in an affluent suburb that is home to many high-profile individuals, including President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Meanwhile, the discovery that Magudumana had allegedly abandoned a luxury car in Zimbabwe and owes a substantial amount of money to the dealership that sold her the vehicle adds another layer to the saga surrounding Bester and his girlfriend. It remains to be seen whether Magudumana will face legal action over the matter.
As for Bester, the hunt for him continues, with the police urging members of the public to come forward with any information that could lead to his capture. The fact that he was able to escape from prison and evade capture for so long highlights the need for a more robust and effective prison system in South Africa.
