Thobakgale reassures public Bester securely locked up in SA’s most heavily guarded prison

Thobakgale was speaking at Kgosi Mampuru C-Max during a raid at the facility overnight, saying Bester cooperated with the search without complaining about his treatment or conditions.

Correctional Services National Commissioner Samuel Thobakgale has reassured the public that convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester is securely locked up in the country’s most heavily guarded prison.

Thobakgale was speaking at Kgosi Mampuru C-Max during a raid at the facility overnight, saying Bester cooperated with the search without complaining about his treatment or conditions.

Bester is serving a life sentence plus 75 years for rape, murder and fraud.

He’s currently being held at Kgosi Mampuru while facing charges relating to his escape from Mangaung Prison in 2022 and a series of alleged fraud and violations.

Thobakgale said Bester is under constant surveillance at the same high-security facility that houses convicted gangsters and killers like Radovan Krejčíř and tender king Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala.

Thobakgale said Bester, like other inmates, adhered to instructions during the raid at the facility.

The commissioner said the public can rest assured that the man dubbed the Facebook rapist is going nowhere.

“I was saying to him: You know where you are; you’re going to abide by the rules, you continue to do that, where we won’t have a problem, and you just go through the motions.”

For now, Bester remains under heavy guard in a cell equipped with 24-hour monitoring as officials tighten security to prevent another escape.