Another body linked to the prison break of Thabo Bester
Police in the Free State are trying to find the man's family because his body was found in a river.
Free State police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a body that was falsely claimed to be the father of Thabo Bester’s girlfriend, Dr Nandipha Magudumana. The body was discovered in a river in Bloemfontein and has been linked to the Thabo Bester prison escape case.
According to police spokesperson Brig Motantsi Makhele, the body was initially found after a hit-and-run accident on October 9, 2021, and was later claimed by one of the suspects in the Thabo Bester escape case at the Bloemfontein government mortuary. It was subsequently found again on April 28, 2022, in the Modder River.
The body, identified as that of a black male, still had the mortuary’s identification toe tag attached when retrieved, connecting it to Dr Nandipha Magudumana.
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To aid in the investigation, the police are urging anyone with information about the man’s identity or the whereabouts of his next of kin to contact Col Ben Bolsiek at 082 466 8530.
Thabo Bester, a convicted rapist and murderer, successfully escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Centre by faking his death in a fire within his prison cell.
Reports suggest that Magudumana played a role in assisting Bester’s escape by allegedly “stealing three bodies.” The final body was burned beyond recognition in Bester’s cell as part of the plan to convince authorities of his demise.
After enjoying a luxurious lifestyle outside of prison for some time, Bester and Magudumana’s scheme unraveled, leading to their arrest in Tanzania while attempting to travel with fake documents.
They were subsequently deported back to South Africa and are currently in custody, awaiting legal proceedings.
