Sleeping with a guard for R1,000: New details emerge about Thabo Bester’s life in prison

Thabo Bester, a convicted murderer and rapist, has been implicated as a senior figure in a prison syndicate that allegedly ran illicit activities behind bars, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and s@x operations.

Shockingly, it is claimed that anyone who raised questions or suspicions about the syndicate was poisoned.

Bester, who was serving a life sentence, managed to escape from the Mangaung maximum-security prison in 2022 by setting his cell on fire.

Officials initially announced his death, but he was later found living a life of luxury and eventually recaptured.

The Sunday Times reported that investigations into his escape revealed even more disturbing practices at the prison.

According to the leaked document compiled by the Department of Correctional Services, Bester appeared to hold a high position in the syndicate, and it was believed that a senior prison manager was also involved.

The document also revealed a plot to poison Bester’s former cellmate, Zwelinzima Nquru, who had raised suspicions that Bester may not be dead.

An inmate, who was later removed from the prison, shared his experience with the paper, stating, “I was approached by a G4S security manager in June 2022 [a month after Bester’s escape] who gave me a blue substance in a bag. He told me to put it in the food of prisoner Zwelinzima Nquru.”

The Department of Correctional Services confirmed the report but stated that they could not investigate further.

These revelations expose a deeply troubling situation within the prison system.

The fact that a convicted murderer and rapist like Bester could hold a prominent position in a prison syndicate raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of security measures and the integrity of prison staff.