Rapist Thabo Bester enjoyed conjugal rights in South African prison
Mr Thabo Bester, a convicted Facebook Rapist who was convicted for raping women, enjoyed conjugal rights while inside the Mangaung Correctional Centre, it has now emerged.
G4S security company, which is tasked with managing the prison, has been yet again thrust into the limelight following the allegations that the prison allowed Mr Bester and his lover Dr Nandipha Magudumana to enjoy their conjugal visits.
This was after the Department of Correctional Services said it had launched an investigation into the allegation that Mr Bester and Dr Magudumana had been offered intimate time together.
“We are aware of the allegations, and they are being investigated. Inmates are not afforded conjugal (visits) in South Africa,” Singabakho Nxumalo, the Department’s spokesperson said, adding that such visits were illegal.
Dr Magudumana and Mr Bester have known each other since 2006, when she was still studying at Wits University. They lost contact in 2011 after Dr Magudumana got married and Mr Bester was imprisoned on sexual assault and murder charges.
Also read: How rapist Thabo Bester escaped prison and attempted to flee to Kenya
However, Dr Magudumana started visiting Bester around 2017, and the pair rekindled their relationship, international media reported.
G4S also confirmed to the justice and correctional services portfolio committee in the South African Parliament that Dr Magudumana had been a frequent visitor to the prison and started seeing Mr Bester at the facility as early as 2017.
This comes amidst claims that the suspect was assisted by senior security guards attached to G4S to sneak out of the Mangaung Correctional Centre.
New evidence of Mr Bester’s escape and how the body of a man identified as Mr Katlego Bareng ended up in his cell came to light at the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court this week as a police witness took the stand.
Mr Bester was mid month arrested alongside Dr Magudumana in Tanzania as he was heading to Kenya. His mission in Kenya remains unclear as they are yet to give more details of the trip.
Also read: How South Africa’s Facebook rapist was arrested fleeing to Kenya
South African media reported that the investigating officer in the case Mr Tieho Flyman contained information reportedly provided in a confession made by a prison CCTV technician who was paid Sh246,000 instead of Sh179 million for his blind-eye bribe.
“The media was also barred from recording or broadcasting live the bail proceedings. The police evidence was presented over a two-day period set aside for the bail application of the five former G4S employees, charges with aiding and abetting Mr Bester in his escape,” international media in South Africa reported.
Former G4S guards Senohe Matsoara, Motenyani Masukela, Tieho Makhotsa and Natassja Jansen, as well as Integration Integrated Solutions technician Teboho Lipholo, appeared again in court on Friday, May 12, 2023, after their bail hearing rolled over from Thursday.
They have all indicated that they intend to plead not guilty.
Dr Magudumana provisionally abandoned her bail application on Thursday, May 11, 2023. According to her lawyer, Adv Frans Dlamini, “new information” has come to light which still needs to be examined.