Thabo Bester, also known as the Facebook Rapist, and his girlfriend Dr. Nandipha Magudumana, have recently made headlines due to their dramatic court appearances following their capture in Tanzania [5]. The couple was arrested in Arusha, Tanzania, and subsequently extradited to South Africa [15].
Bester, who was convicted of murder and two counts of rape, was believed to have died in a prison cell fire in May last year. However, it was later discovered that he staged his own death with the help of Magudumana, who allegedly stole three bodies from mortuaries in the Free State to use in the escape plot [7]. The body found in Bester’s cell was revealed to have died from blunt force trauma to the head before being burned, leading the police to open a murder case against him [17].
Magudumana, a celebrity doctor, claimed to be Bester’s customary law wife and initially attempted to claim the body following the prison fire. However, the police confiscated the body for further investigations when the autopsy report contradicted the cause of death [27].
The couple’s court appearances have garnered significant attention from the media and the public. Bester has been seen entering the court in a yellow tracksuit [10]. Magudumana has also made headlines with her statement claiming she was held against her will in Tanzania [8].
As the case continues to unfold, more shocking details are expected to emerge about the couple’s actions and the extent of their criminal activities.