A rapist who targeted his victims on social media was seen sauntering through one of Cape Town's most-upmarket suburbs after staging his own death and breaking out of prison.
Thabo Bester, who was branded the "Facebook rapist", broke out after a charred body was found in his cell at a max-security prison run by G4S - a London-based security firm.
A few months after the brazen escape, Bester was seen in an area close to a £5million mansion he had been renting, which was down the road from the president's home.
An investigation by news website GroundUp found that Bester did escape - and that he may have been helped by the prison's own guards.
A post-mortem revealed that the body, which was burned beyond recognition, had been bludgeoned before it was set ablaze.
In emails sent from a prison official to the country's deputy justice and correctional services minister there were claims of officials helping him escape Mangaung Prison.
In a statement urging the public to help track down Bester, the department said jail guards have been sacked.
Bester was in prison after luring women to him by claiming that modelling scouts were interested in meeting them.
He then killed one of them.
He was said to be living with Nandipha Magudumanam, who was known for her work with celebrity clients specialising in cosmetic treatments.
After GroundUp published its investigation, the fugitive and Magudumanam had disappeared from their home.
The lease on their swanky pad is said to have been arranged with prison officials.
Department of correctional services spokesman Singabakho Nxumalo warned of "serious consequences" for those involved in the escape.
While incarcerated, Bester had been given a laptop so he could study - but used it to involved himself with a scam event and media production.
The Department of Correctional Services said in a comment: "On 3 May 2022, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) received a report from Mangaung Correctional Centre, a public-private partnership (PPP) facility contracted to Bloemfontein Correctional Contracts, operated by G4S, indicating that offender Thabo Bester committed suicide by setting himself alight in his cell at about 3.25am.
"This incident attracted media attention and it was confirmed to various media houses as received from G4S.
"Recorded as an unnatural death, the Standard Operating Procedures dictated that an investigation be launched and the incident be reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS).
"In line with the Concession Contract, two officials from the DCS were appointed by the Controller (an official of DCS) to conduct an investigation into the incident.
"DCS is now in a position to bring forth findings of its investigation on Thabo Bester, an offender sentenced to life and 75 years imprisonment, running concurrently. It has to be stated that this statement only provides an account from DCS as SAPS is still seized with the matter and conducting its own investigation.
"A post-mortem conducted on the body that burnt beyond recognition in Cell 35 at Mangaung Correctional Centre, revealed that it was an adult male with blunt force trauma to his head.
"The post-mortem report further revealed that there were no signs of smoke inhalation in the body. Furthermore, it uncovered that that pancreas and the spleen in the body were in the early stages of decomposition.
"Over and above that, the DNA sequencing with a person identified to be the mother of Bester failed to indicate a common ancestor, or a match.
"Based on the above, a plausible conclusion will mean that the said body referred to above is not of Thabo Bester. This is the basis upon which the DCS investigation report concluded that Bester escaped from lawful custody on May 3, 2022.
"Critical at this stage is for Thabo Bester to be found. DCS is appealing to the public to assist with any information that may lead to the re-arrest of Bester. Such information should be provided to the nearest police station or a correctional services facility."
The department added: "No stone will be left unturned in getting to the bottom of Thabo Bester's escape and there will be serious consequences for any party involved."
