Well-connected? Thabo Bester claims to know these celebs
Well-connected? Thabo Bester claims to know these celebs. With his charm and gift of the gab, Thabo Bester has repeatedly deceived the public into believing he was a hotshot businessman. The convicted criminal is also thought to be well-connected to several celebrities and politicians who have directly or indirectly crossed paths with him.
Thabo and his co-accused, former girlfriend Nandipha Magudumana and seven others, are facing a slew of charges, including aiding his 2022 prison escape, running fraudulent businesses, and violating multiple bodies.
His trial is set to begin on 10 November at the Bloemfontein High Court.
THABO BESTER: CELEBRITIES LINKED TO CONVICT?
In 2023, Thabo Bester was first linked to celebrity aesthetics doctor Nandipha Magudumana. However, his “contact list” reportedly contains many more prominent names…
Through his own admission and via media reports, these celebrities’ names have been linked to Thabo Bester…
In 2012, a year after his sentencing for rape and murder, Pearl Thusi went public about coming came face to face with the man dubbed the “Facebook Rapist” in a chilling encounter. In a police affidavit shown to Sunday World, the star revealed how she had survived an attack by the convict.
Pearl allegedly introduced Bester to actor Tumisho Masha and later singer-turned-preacher Kabelo Mabalane. Masha later told the media that Thabo Bester was a “textbook definition of a psychopath”.
In a letter written from prison in 2013, Bester claimed he had been “abandoned” by his celebrity pals and wrote about feeling “loneliness, rejection, and judgment.” In the letter, Thabo Bester name-dropped a reported friendship with media personality Bonang Matheba.
Addressing the star directly, Bester wrote: “I was the one who believed in you from the days of UJ (University of Johannesburg). Through me, you got your dream job. From that Fiat to Mini, I was with you.”
Thabo Bester once claimed to be close friends with Bonang Matheba. Images via YouTube screenshot/ Instagram: @bonang_m
He added: “It’s ok because God knows me, and I love you as a sister in God…Bonang, God bless you with more work”.
Bonang reportedly clapped back at Bester’s wild allegations. She told the media: “This is bizarre because I don’t know him at all.”
BIRTHDAY BASH WITH CELEB PALS?
In investigations published by GroundUp, Thabo Bester ran an elaborate, multi-million rand scam while in prison.
Under an alleged accomplice – he registered an event and production company called 21st Century Media in 2018. This, while he was imprisoned at the Magaung Correctional Centre for his murder and rape sentence.
The company held a grand launch party at the Hilton Hotel in Sandton, attended by celebs like Amanda du Pont, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, and politician Mzwanele Manyi.
Bester – using the alias Tom Motsepe – told his company employees and the public that he was based in New York. He also claimed that he was related to SA billionaire Patrice Motsepe.
In a video clip that has since gone viral, Nomzamo Mbatha and Thabile Ngwato were captured singing Happy Birthday to “Tom,” who was seen laughing via a video link.
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