Thabo Bester Saga
Convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester escaped from Mangaung Correctional Centre on 3 May 2022 with the help of his accomplice, Nandipha Magudumana. Read the latest developments below.
Courts uphold media freedom in SA as the surge in prior restraint cases fails
‘The Streisand effect’ is now known, according to Wikipedia, as ‘an unintended consequence of attempts to hide, remove or censor information, where the effort instead increases public awareness of the information’. In SA we should call it The Spear effect after Brett Murray’s controversial work of art.
Murder of ‘stabbed, bitten’ Cape Town inmate probed, Mangaung jail killing ‘cover-up’ exposed
A Cape Town prison detainee died in February 2025. His lawyer says the wounds on his body suggest he was bitten and stabbed, and Western Cape police are now investigating a murder. This while four prison warders were arrested in another province in connection with another inmate’s killing.
Jailhouse rot – SA prisons plagued by a cellphones, cash, drugs, knives and alcohol smuggling hub
With prison overcrowding at 155% and corruption by warders rampant, jailhouses have become hubs of crime. Dishonest warders help smuggle banned items and money, while gangsters tighten their grip from behind bars. Information that has recently surfaced in Parliament, combined with issues linked to the South African Police Service, provides a much grittier insight into the country’s prison problems.
Supreme Court of Appeal to hear Magudumana’s case against ‘disguised extradition’ on Thursday
Nandipha Magudumana was arrested in Tanzania with convicted murderer and rapist and prison escapee Thabo Bester in April 2023. Her lawyers say her return to South Africa was forced and unlawful.
Police detained fugitive Thabo Bester but let him slip through their fingers, minister confirms
Bester showed police a fraudulent ID when he was stopped for speeding, and was released with a notice to appear in court.
Public Protector blames Correctional Services for prolonging Thabo Bester escape
Two officials have faced disciplinary processes and received final written warnings.
Raid at ‘Sun City’ prison fails to curb contraband access as prisoners continue to enjoy ‘outside perks’
Despite a high-profile raid at “Sun City” prison, prisoners continue to access cellphones and other luxuries behind bars. The Department of Correctional Services claims it is making efforts to curb this, but issues of staff complicity and weak enforcement persist.
Thabo Bester to launch new bid to postpone trial with newly appointed lawyers
Case postponed at the Free State Division of the High Court in Bloemfontein to 31 July.
Further delay in Thabo Bester trial as court hears complaints of ‘inhumane’ treatment
Bester complains that his rights to a fair trial are being infringed.
SA Villain of the Year: Thabo Bester and Nandipha Magudumana
The couple wins this title because of their heinous crimes – and because of what their sorry tale says about the state and our broader society.
Helpful New Year’s resolutions for SA’s infamous public figures and the people who need them the most
Looking back on the year that was, some of those who occupied centre stage shouldn’t find it too difficult to choose options for doing better in 2024. But, in case they’re still clueless, here’s some help.
Thabo Bester saga — Still no sign of officials’ accountability following prisoner’s escape
Eight months since the highly publicised Parliamentary hearing, little action has been taken by Parliament or Correctional Services.
SAPS dragged its feet and ignored red flags, say ‘Thabo Bester Story’ authors
Thabo Bester’s prison escape was one of the biggest South African stories of the year. It not only exposed the elaborately orchestrated prison escape of a convicted rapist and murderer, but also the country’s faulty justice system. A Daily Maverick webinar examined how Bester’s escape could have been prevented if the justice system valued competence.
Thabo Bester drama — Nandipha Magudumana collapses, high court trial set for February 2024
Charges against three of the 12 accused have also been withdrawn.
Thabo Bester and Nandipha Magudumana threaten court action to stop book release
Facebook rapist Thabo Bester wants to ‘avoid being prosecuted by and in the media’, according to his lawyers.
Thabo Bester saga — Nandipha Magudumana denied bail, deemed ‘flight risk’
Bloemfontein magistrate says ‘nothing would stand in her way’ to assist Bester escape again.
Top cop rips into Nandipha Magudumana’s ‘Stockholm syndrome’ defence
The infamous murderer and rapist’s lover says he forced her to flee with him, but an investigating officer has found plenty of holes in her story.
Thabo Bester, Nandipha Magudumana allege ‘inhumane treatment’ at hands of SAPS while in custody
Bester says possessions, which he claims are worth R40-million, were confiscated during his arrest.
Thabo Bester saga — Free State high court dismisses Nandipha Magudumana’s leave to appeal extradition ruling
Judge finds Nandipha’s appeal has no reasonable prospect for success.
Thabo Bester escape – Dr Nandipha says she did not consent to her extradition
But, police advocate argues: ‘She wanted to come home, she came home.’
A single digital identity for South Africa is imperative for inclusive economic growth
The much-publicised case of body swapping to assist Thabo Bester’s breakout from a maximum-security prison and his escape from South Africa with fake travel credentials has exposed one of the enduring problems bedevilling the country today — the digital divide.
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