JOHANNESBURG: A South African fugitive who faked his own death in a prison break that embarrassed authorities has been apprehended in Tanzania, the government said on Saturday.

Thabo Bester, a convicted rapist, escaped from a privately-run prison in Bloemfontein in May last year — but South African police only found out last month.

On Saturday, Justice Minister Ronald Lamola said Bester was arrested by Tanzanian authorities on Friday night along with a woman he is reportedly romantically involved with and another person.

“(We) can confirm that escapee Mr Thabo Bester with his accomplice Dr Nandipha Maguduma(na) along with a Mozambican national have been arrested in Tanzania late last night,” Lamola told a press briefing.

Bester was believed to have died after setting himself on fire behind bars, but in late March police said DNA tests revealed the charred remains found in his cell belonged to someone else.

Dubbed the “Facebook rapist”, Bester allegedly lured victims on the social media platform before raping and robbing them. He killed at least one victim. In 2012 he was sentenced to life in prison for rape, robbery and murder.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2023