Thabo Bester allegedly threatened Dr Nandipha Magodumana. Social media users have access to an alleged WhatsApp chat between Thabo Bester and Dr. Nandipha Magodumana. According to the recording that was leaked, the killer and r@pist threatened Nandipha to cooperate with him in order to make his getaway. In the event that the doctor disobeyed him, he threatened to take her husband and kids.
Thabo Bester: “I am driving to Johannesburg tonight, when I get there if I call you and you don’t f*cken pick up the phone, uzosola impilo yakho,” (you’ll regret it with your life). Nandipha: “Angi understand why you’re saying this Thabo, why are you threatening me”?
In order to make a daring escape from the Mangaung Correctional Center in May of last year, Bester, with Magudumana’s assistance, faked his own death.
Since images of Bester and Magudumana shopping for free chicken in a posh Joburg Woolworths surfaced online earlier this year, the two have been on the run.
Thabo Bester allegedly threatened Dr Nandipha Magodumana
They were apprehended in Arusha on Wednesday, and on Thursday morning, they were flown on a private jet to South Africa.
According to Police Minister Bheki Cele, the Tanzanian government requested that detainees be flown on a privately chartered aircraft.
To bring the fugitives home to South Africa, a South African group made up of police and Department of Justice officials left for the East African nation on Sunday.
The two were detained in Tanzania, only 10 km from the Kenyan border, and were found to be in possession of numerous passports that contained multiple identities.
“She was being held against her will by him. That was her response in her initial arrest questions, that’s what she said.”
The source however said it is unclear if Magudumana changed her statement after that.
Following their arrival in South Africa, Cele said Magudumana was “very cooperative”, but not Bester.
“We know that the good doctor (Magudumana) cooperated on the other side. We know that the good doctor’s customary husband (Bester) did not cooperate,” said Cele.
After the couple arrived in South Africa, officials moved quickly to put Bester into the Kgosi Mampuru II prison and transport Magudumana to the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court for her initial court appearance.
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale stated the Facebook rapist would be under 24/7 supervision, including who he is in communication with, during a press conference on Thursday following Bester and Magudumana’s arrival in South Africa.
“High profile and high-risk offenders have been admitted to this section of the prison without incident. Obviously in that facility we have different sections, we chose to accommodate him at C-Max because we are also looking at the intensity of the security and the contact we need to manage around him, given the type of offender he is.” Thobakgale said.
The hearing against the now-disgraced Magudumana was delayed until April 17 in order to consider a potential bail application.
