Security violations found in Thabo Bester’s escape cell

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New revelations regarding the alleged death of Thabo Bester, the so-called “Facebook rapist,” have surfaced, raising concerns about security and oversight within the South African correctional system, after he escaped and faked his death.

According to The Citizen, Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald inspected the Mangaung correctional centre where Thabo escaped and where the decoy body of Katlego Bereng(the body found in Thabo’s cell) was found.

The publication further states that the assessment uncovered multiple security violations, indicating that the escape was carefully planned and involved manipulation by several staff members, some of whom have been charged.

GroundUp publication reported that in early 2022, the Department of Correctional Services announced that Thabo was found dead in his cell at the Mangaung Correctional Centre following a fire. CCTV footage seen by the publication showed several individuals leaving the prison shortly before the fire broke out, raising suspicions of foul play.

EWN reported that the key to the escape was former prison warder Senohe Matsoara, who is accused of playing a crucial role in the escape by receiving multiple payments that were allegedly used to bribe others involved in the escape from Thabo and his celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana, using his girlfriend’s bank account.

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