Johannesburg – The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) on Saturday admitted that it was duped by “The Facebook Rapist” Thabo Bester, who faked his own death in an elaborate prison escape.
The anomally was exposed by an invesitigation by GroundUp, which published compelling evidence last week that Bester faked his death in a cell fire and escaped from prison in May 2022.
Admitting the prison system had been breached, the DCS said: “The post-mortem report further revealed that there were no signs of smoke inhalation in the body.
“Furthermore, it uncovered that the pancreas and the spleen in the body were in the early stages of decomposition.
“Over and above that, the DNA sequencing with a person identified to be the mother of Bester failed to indicate a common ancestor, or a match.
“Based on the above, a plausible conclusion will mean that the said body referred to above is not of Thabo Bester.”
The DCS said its investigation report concluded that Bester escaped from lawful custody on 3 May 2022.
“Critical at this stage is for Thabo Bester to be found,” the DCS said, adding that it was appealing to the public to assist with any information that may lead to his re-arrest.
Bester was dubbed the “Facebook Rapist” because he used the social media platform to lure women with claims that international modelling scouts were interested in them.
He would then rape them and rob them using a knife. He murdered at least one of his victims.
Bester was serving a life sentence for rape and murder at the Mangaung Correctional Centre, a private prison managed by multinational security company G4S.
Last year in May, a fire broke out in the cell where Bester was kept and a body was found beneath a mattress, burned beyond recognition.
At the time it was thought that Bester had died and had been burnt beyond recognition.
“No stone will be left unturned in getting to the bottom of Thabo Bester’s escape and there will be serious consequences for any party involved,” the DCS said.
