In a significant breakthrough, Thabo Bester, a fugitive convicted murderer and rapist, has reportedly been arrested in Tanzania[2]. Bester had escaped from the privately managed Mangaung Prison in Bloemfontein with alleged inside help[5]. Police Minister Bheki Cele and Justice Minister Ronald Lamola are expected to update the nation on the details surrounding Bester’s capture soon[2].
Bester’s partner, Dr. Nandipha Magudumana, a celebrity doctor, is also on the run with him. The couple reportedly tried to cross into Zimbabwe with a luxury vehicle that Magudumana had made only a few payments on[3]. It is believed that Magudumana later dumped the vehicle in Zimbabwe, shortly after crossing the border[4].
The South African Police Service (SAPS) and forensics had stormed the Johannesburg hideout mansion where the couple stayed before their escape[7]. As the search for Dr. Nandipha Magudumana continues, the arrest of Thabo Bester marks a significant development in the case. More information about the capture and the couple’s future legal proceedings is expected to be provided by the authorities soon.