Thabo Bester Name-Drops Former President Jacob Zuma in Courtroom Rant

Thabo Bester Name-Drops Former President Jacob Zuma in Courtroom Rant

In a dramatic and unexpected courtroom outburst on Wednesday, June 5th, at the Free State High Court, Thabo Bester, the convicted rapist, murderer, and fraudster, made headlines by linking his case to former South African President Jacob Zuma. Bester suggested that his political affiliations and alleged connections to Zuma have influenced his treatment in prison and the handling of his case.

Bester, infamously known as the “Facebook rapist,” is facing charges alongside his alleged romantic partner, Nandipha Magudumana, and seven others. The charges include assisting his escape, fraud, corruption, and violating multiple bodies. This court appearance comes over a year after a viral image purportedly showing Bester with Zuma ignited widespread speculation on social media.

THABO BESTER NAME-DROPS FORMER PRESIDENT IN POLITICAL RANT

During his address to the court, Bester made bombshell allegations that political powers were at play in his prison escape charges. He stated, “I have more than enough evidence to prove that there is much more than just people that work at G4S that one day decided to release me. It’s highly impossible without political power and without high office involved in this issue.”

Bester further claimed that police had coerced him into pleading guilty to his 2011 and 2012 rape and murder convictions and insisted that there was “no evidence” of any crimes. He suggested that his own political agenda was a factor in his alleged mistreatment, adding, “I am not the worst inmate in this country.

I have three counts, but I am the most popular inmate for no reason because of political issues I have in my personal capacity that have nothing to do with these legal proceedings.”

Without explicitly naming Jacob Zuma, Bester insinuated that an investigating officer, who has since committed suicide, had made a statement alleging that the former president orchestrated his prison escape.

This officer, Brigadier Jackson Mkhaulesi, was the head of the Free State Organized Crime Unit and reportedly took his own life in June 2023 after leaving the Bloemfontein High Court. This occurred shortly after Magudumana’s urgent application to declare her “deportation” from Tanzania as unlawful was dismissed.

THAT PICTURE WITH JACOB ZUMA

In April 2023, a photograph purportedly showing Jacob Zuma with Thabo Bester went viral, further complicating the narrative. The Showmax docuseries Tracking Thabo Bester explored the origin of the image, with GroundUp journalist Daniel Steyn suggesting that Bester had infiltrated South Africa’s elite circles and might have met Zuma to pitch a business opportunity.

However, the Jacob Zuma Foundation quickly distanced itself from Bester, with spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi claiming the image was a “malicious attempt to tarnish the former president” and asserting that the photo was fake.

This is not the first time Bester, who has previously claimed to be “politically connected” in leaked audio, has duped the public. The 36-year-old has a history of fabrications, including presenting himself as a hot-shot businessman named Tom Motsepe. Social media sleuths even uncovered instances where Bester had photoshopped his face onto the body of Hollywood star Michael B. Jordan in pictures posted on his Twitter account.

As the case against Bester and his co-accused continues, the implications of his explosive allegations and the viral image will undoubtedly play a significant role in the unfolding drama. The next court appearance is scheduled for July 24th, where the accused will face further legal scrutiny.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story, as the high-profile case of Thabo Bester continues to unravel, revealing deeper layers of intrigue, political connections, and legal battles.