Johannesburg – The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has announced the transfer of convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester to eBongweni Super Maximum Correctional Facility in KwaZulu-Natal.
Bester, infamously known as the “Facebook Rapist,” was convicted in 2012 for raping and robbing two women and the murder of his model girlfriend, Nomfundo Tyhulu.
He received a life sentence plus additional terms and was incarcerated at the Mangaung Correctional Centre.
However, in May 2022, the convicted reapist and murderer orchestrated a dramatic escape by faking his death in a cell fire, using a charred body (later identified as another person killed by blunt force trauma) to deceive authorities, with alleged assistance from prison staff and accomplices.
Bester evaded capture for nearly a year while living under an alias, reportedly with his partner, celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana.
He was arrested in Tanzania in April 2023 and extradited to South Africa, where he now faces additional serious charges, including murder (related to the body used in the escape), arson, fraud, escaping from lawful custody, and defeating the ends of justice.
As of early 2026, Bester’s high-profile prison escape trial has faced repeated postponements.
A scheduled start of the trial has been pushed to July 2026 amid ongoing legal disputes.
Commenting on why Bester was moved to eBongweni Super Maximum Correctional Facility, the department on Friday, 30 January 2026, said: “It has to be emphasised that offender transfers are a routine practice, guided by established security risk assessments to ensure the safety, security, and stability of correctional facilities and the broader criminal justice system.
“The offender will continue to receive appropriate care in line with applicable legislative and policy prescripts and will retain full access to legal representation, family communication, and court processes.
“All necessary logistical arrangements remain in place to ensure that court appearances and legal proceedings proceed without disruption.”
