THABO BESTER ‘Houdini’ has the country on titters and prison facility ability questioned.
Bester, known as ‘Facebook Rapist’ for his crimes is alleged to have died in the Mangaung Correctional Facility, in the Free State province.
But all this allegations have proven to be fault as it’s rumoured the same Bester, launched a hell of an escape from the prison managed by an international private company G4S, and insists the man who died at the facility in May last year, was Bester.
Questions remain to be unanswered how, where, when and who benefited from his escape?
The department of correctional services said it is in talks with G4S to get to the bottom of what transpired on the day Thabo Bester allegedly died.
Spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said there was no common ground between the correctional services’ findings and those of G4S.
“We are now engaging with the second leg, in terms of what the contract says when it comes to an escape. The security breaches that we have identified, unfortunately, there is no common ground. We don’t seem to find each other with the contractor (G4S) in terms of our findings and their findings,” said Nxumalo.
Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) is having none of it and calling for termination of contract with G4S.
Richard Mamabolo, spokesperson for the union says the details surrounding Bester’s escape is worrying.
“We can no longer rely on internal investigations now because since last year May, there had been internal investigations and there were four people who were charged and the matter was closed.
“So we think that the Department of Correctional Services should get involved as well as the Saps to actually verify whether the body belongs to Mr Bester or not,” Mamabolo said.
It has also called on the Department of Correctional Services to revoke the 25-year contract it had with G4S to run Mangaung prison, following the brazen escape.
“There has been many reports of human rights violations at the very same prison over the years. So, we think that things cannot continue the way they are.
“We think that there is a lot money being spent on private prisons which is around R1 billion on a yearly basis, which could have been used to improve the current correctional centres that we do have which are under the Department of Correctional Services,” Mamabolo said.
Mamabolo said this meant that the department paid more than R400 per prisoner a day.
Question is why would the State allow a private company run a correctional facility, who stands to benefit from this deal?
According to other media reports ‘houdini’ Bester and flamboyant girlfriend Doctor, are or were, living it up at some posh house in Hyde Park. And yes, he’s still on the run…
He operated a media company from his cell, had laptop, a mobile, paid staff and his birthday party was attended by who’s who in mzansi.
Again, who benefited from this and who is or was behind all this shenanigans’ taking place from his cell?
SAPS has confirmed its following potential leads in arresting Bester and would not divulge any more details further as this matter is sensitive.
The minister of Justice Advocate Ronald Lamola is under pressure to intervene and resolve this mystery once and for all, as it continues to shed a bad light on the already poorly-managed correctional services system in our country.
G4S continues to avoid media engagements.
Image supplied (Houdini. Thabo Bester made a brazing escape and still on the run).
