Despite facing serious charges, convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester and his girlfriend and alleged accomplice in his prison escape case, Dr Nandipha Magudumana unashamedly put on a senseless love show inside a Bloemfontein court on Tuesday.
During their first reunion since their April arrest in Tanzania, the love birds were conspicuously cosy and couldn’t hide their excitement for all to see.
They locked eyes, and whispered seemingly sweet nothings into each other’s ears while holding hands as the pair sat in the dock at the Bloemfontein magistrate’s court, seemingly oblivious to the gravity of the charges they face.
While the lovers displayed happiness and joy in front of TV cameras and journalists in court, members of Katlego Bereng’s family — who seek answers to his body being used as a decoy during Bester’s May 2022 escape from the Mangaung correctional facility — had to witness this nonsensical love show.
Bereng’s charred body was found in Bester’s prison cell after it was used to orchestrate what is believed to have been one of the most elaborate prison escapes in South African history.
Let’s spare a thought for Bareng’s family who are still in the dark as to how the body of their loved one ended up charred and lifeless in Bester’s cell.
Bester, allegedly in collusion with prison officials, reportedly faked his death in prison after Bereng’s body was brought into his cell and set alight.
Bester and Magudumana were arrested in Tanzania in April, close to the Kenyan border, after escaping South Africa.
Bester, 36, who sported a fresh clean-shaven head, smiled from ear to ear in the dock on Tuesday, while he faces charges of escaping from prison, arson, violation of a body, defeating the ends of justice and fraud, among others.
Magudumana, 36, who is considered to be the mastermind behind Bester’s escape, blushed and smiled when her rapist boyfriend walked into court and sat next to her just before the start of their hearing.
The doctor faces more than 10 charges which include fraud, violating a body, corruption and intentionally harbouring and concealing an escaped offender, looked overjoyed sitting near the man who many believe has destroyed her life and once blossoming career.
While many have dubbed the Bester and Magudumana saga as a typical Bonny and Clyde story, let’s spare a thought for Bereng’s family, who are still in the dark as to how the body of their loved one ended up charred and lifeless in Bester’s cell.
Bereng, a father of two, went missing in March last year. His family began a search and contacted various government mortuaries to no avail, until police this month did DNA tests to confirm his identity. His family deserves to know the truth to be able to find deserved closure.
Bester and Magudumana need to recognise and appreciate that this is not fun and games. They are in a legal process that could see them locked up for years if found guilty. Court officials should pre-empt this sort of behaviour next time they appear and prevent their little sideshow from taking centre stage again.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.