By localnew 
Thabo Bester Claims He Was Lawfully Released From Prison, Denies Escape
Convicted criminal Thabo Bester has claimed that he did not escape from prison but was instead lawfully released from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022.
Bester, who is at the centre of one of South Africa’s most controversial criminal cases, argues that his departure from the correctional facility was authorised and not an escape as widely reported. His claim contradicts previous findings by authorities that he staged a prison escape after faking his own death in a cell fire.
Authorities have maintained that Bester’s disappearance in 2022 was part of a carefully planned escape. Investigations revealed that a body was found in his prison cell following a fire, which initially led officials to believe he had died. However, it was later discovered that the body did not belong to him, sparking a nationwide manhunt.
Bester was eventually re-arrested in 2023 along with his partner, Nandipha Magudumana, after they were located outside South Africa. Their arrest drew significant public attention and raised serious questions about security failures within correctional services.
Officials have not accepted Bester’s latest claims, and legal proceedings in the matter are ongoing. The case continues to attract widespread public interest due to the serious nature of the offences involved and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance from custody.
The developments are expected to form part of ongoing court proceedings as authorities seek to determine accountability and ensure justice is served.