STATEMENT ON ESCAPED RAPIST AND MURDERER THABO BESTER
Saturday, 25 March 2023
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is appalled by the reports that Thabo Bester, known as "The Facebook Rapist" has escaped from prison since the 3rd of May 2022. Bester, who was imprisoned in Mangaung Correctional Centre for multiple cases of rape and murder, has been on the loose for almost a year, after he was falsely declared dead by Correctional Services.
The escape of Bester, and the confirmation of his death by Correctional Services without having conducted the necessary DNA tests is testament to the incompetence of the Correctional Services system, and the endemic corruption in the sector. Bester's death through suicide was staged, as the deceased body found in his cell was that of another individual, while he has been on the loose for months.
It is even more disturbing that Bester was able to run a media company during his tenure in prison, possibly amassing the money necessary to orchestrate his fake death, escape from prison and have a life outside of prison without it ever being discovered that he had indeed escaped. The EFF condemns this blatant incompetence, which has undoubtedly endangered the lives of women in South Africa, and will further dent the little confidence victims and survivors of Gender Based Violence have in our justice system.
We call on a massive manhunt to be conducted by the South African Police Services (SAPS), in conjunction with Intelligence Services, to track and apprehend Thabo Bester. Furthermore, all of those who were employed at Mangaung Correctional Centre during the period of Bester's imprisonment and his escape must immediately be brought in for questioning.