“Facebook Rapist” Thabo Bester Fakes Death, Escapes Prison in South Africa

 It sounds like a storyline straight out of a gripping TV series. Thabo Bester, also known as the Facebook Rapist, a convicted murderer, meticulously plans his escape by faking his own death. For nearly a year, he and his partner successfully evade capture, enjoying their newfound freedom outside of prison walls. However, their luck eventually runs out.

Bester sets fire to himself in a cell at the Mangaung Correctional Center, making it appear as though he has died. But to everyone’s surprise, the Facebook Rapist is later found alive and well by members of the public, with reports of him even being spotted grocery shopping. In March, police open a new murder investigation as results reveal that the body found after the fire does not belong to Bester.

The deceased had actually died from blunt-force trauma to the head prior to the fire.

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As this startling discovery becomes public, arrests are made and a cross-country effort ensues, resulting in the capture of the fugitives in Tanzania. Some of them have already faced a judge, adding another unexpected twist to this real-life saga.

Author

  • DASHEN USMAN

    Dashen Usman is a passionate, award-winning broadcast journalist with a bold voice in Nigerian media. Currently anchoring on News Central TV, Dashen also hosts THE CONVERSATION, a platform that amplifies African voices, explores shared challenges, and celebrates resilience.

    With a degree in Mass Communication from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and over 10 years of professional experience spanning AIT, The Guardian Newspaper, and 96.9 Cool FM, she is recognised as one of the strongest voices out of the North.

    Dashen is more than a voice; She has partnered with Amnesty International on the Press for Freedom campaign, advocating for press freedom and the safety of journalists.
    She has organised capacity-building workshops for young creatives and entrepreneurs, with collaborators including Ade Bantu, Planet Heart Foundation, and Music Africa. Through her show and CSR efforts, she has engaged in humanitarian outreach, donating to and uplifting the lives of youth, women, and the less privileged.

    Before the 2019 elections, Dashen co-organised a Peace Concert with the Kaduna State Government, contributing to one of the most peaceful elections in the state’s history. She hosted educational initiatives like a Campus Book Tour with politician & activist Ayisha Osori, and facilitated two editions of the Youth Collaboration Summit and TEDx events, empowering changemakers. She also worked on the “4 HER BY HER CAMPAIGN” - a groundbreaking initiative committed to returning out-of-school girls in Kaduna and across Nigeria back to the classroom, celebrating their tenacity and inspiring their futures.

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