Thabo Bester was reportedly running a media company while in prison.
The “Women in Media” conference, which turned out to be a sham, was organized by 21st Century Media, which was created to appear to be a division of 21st Century Fox.
According to Groundup.org.za, Bester created a new persona, “Tom Motsepe”, posing as the company’s chairman based in New York.
Bester posed as the “chairman” of 21st Century Media, a scam event and production company, which was made to look like a subsidiary of 21st Century Fox.
21st Century Media became the subject of a social media storm in 2018 for promoting a “Women in Media” conference with Hollywood A-listers as guest speakers, which turned out to be a scam.
Bester was incarcerated at the Mangaung Correctional Facility at the time of the crime, a maximum security private jail run by the international corporation G4S, where he was serving a life sentence.
In 2018, 21st Century Media gained notoriety for promoting a “Women in Media” conference that ended up being a hoax. Hollywood A-listers Taraji P. Henson and Halle Berry were touted as speakers, and tickets cost R1,250 each.
After learning that Berry and Henson wouldn’t be attending, South African media star Bonang Matheba withdrew from hosting the “Women in Media” event.
[{"id":15052,"link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/2026\/03\/ramadan-saraki-visits-mosques-supports-communities-across-kwara\/","name":"ramadan-saraki-visits-mosques-supports-communities-across-kwara","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/649299521_25465260343153789_6151332691910781936_n.jpg","alt":""},"title":"Ramadan: Saraki Visits Mosques, Supports Communities Across Kwara","author":{"name":"Adebayo","link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Mar 7, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-03-07 10:07:39","modifiedDate":"2026-03-07 10:07:51","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-03-07 10:07:51","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/kwara-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kwara News<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/kwara-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kwara News<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/tag\/bukola-saraki\/' rel='post_tag'>Bukola Saraki<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/tag\/kwara\/' rel='post_tag'>Kwara<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/tag\/kwara-state\/' rel='post_tag'>kwara state<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/tag\/saraki\/' rel='post_tag'>Saraki<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":23},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":15049,"link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/2026\/02\/kwara-north-pdp-hails-dr-abubakar-bukola-saraki-over-ramadan-relief-package\/","name":"kwara-north-pdp-hails-dr-abubakar-bukola-saraki-over-ramadan-relief-package","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG-20240828-WA0018.jpg","alt":""},"title":"Kwara North PDP Hails Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki Over Ramadan Relief Package","author":{"name":"Adebayo","link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Feb 22, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-22 08:36:40","modifiedDate":"2026-02-22 08:36:43","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-22 08:36:43","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/kwara-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kwara News<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/kwara-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kwara News<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/tag\/bukola-saraki\/' rel='post_tag'>Bukola Saraki<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/tag\/kwara\/' rel='post_tag'>Kwara<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/tag\/kwara-state\/' rel='post_tag'>kwara state<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":25},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":15046,"link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/2026\/02\/patigi-commends-saraki-for-ramadan-support-reaffirms-confidence-in-pdps-future\/","name":"patigi-commends-saraki-for-ramadan-support-reaffirms-confidence-in-pdps-future","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-12-18-at-21.28.31_6db11f1e.jpg","alt":""},"title":"Patigi Commends Saraki for Ramadan Support, Reaffirms Confidence in PDP\u2019s Future","author":{"name":"Adebayo","link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Feb 22, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-22 08:32:47","modifiedDate":"2026-02-22 08:32:51","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-22 08:32:51","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/kwara-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kwara News<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/kwara-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kwara News<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":3},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":15044,"link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/2026\/02\/kwara-north-community-appreciates-saraki-for-ramadan-support\/","name":"kwara-north-community-appreciates-saraki-for-ramadan-support","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-08-30-at-16.31.10.jpeg","alt":""},"title":"Kwara North Community Appreciates Saraki for Ramadan Support","author":{"name":"Adebayo","link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Feb 22, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-22 08:29:03","modifiedDate":"2026-02-22 08:29:05","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-22 08:29:05","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/kwara-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kwara News<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/kwara-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kwara News<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":0},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":15042,"link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/2026\/02\/ilorin-west-pdp-commends-saraki-for-ramadan-packages-distribution\/","name":"ilorin-west-pdp-commends-saraki-for-ramadan-packages-distribution","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-08-30-at-16.31.10.jpeg","alt":""},"title":"Ilorin West PDP Commends Saraki for Ramadan Packages Distribution","author":{"name":"Adebayo","link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Feb 22, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-22 08:25:51","modifiedDate":"2026-02-22 08:25:53","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-22 08:25:53","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/kwara-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kwara News<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/kwara-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kwara News<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/tag\/kwara\/' rel='post_tag'>Kwara<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/tag\/kwara-state\/' rel='post_tag'>kwara state<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":59},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":15040,"link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/2026\/02\/ramadan-kcst-president-applauds-sarakis-strategic-support-for-youth-mobilization\/","name":"ramadan-kcst-president-applauds-sarakis-strategic-support-for-youth-mobilization","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-02-20-at-21.15.08.jpeg","alt":""},"title":"Ramadan: KCST President Applauds Saraki\u2019s Strategic Support for Youth Mobilization","author":{"name":"Adebayo","link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Feb 22, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-22 08:20:37","modifiedDate":"2026-02-22 08:20:40","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-22 08:20:40","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/kwara-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kwara News<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/kwara-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kwara News<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/tag\/bukola-saraki\/' rel='post_tag'>Bukola Saraki<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/tag\/kwara\/' rel='post_tag'>Kwara<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/tag\/kwara-state\/' rel='post_tag'>kwara state<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":8},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":15037,"link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/2026\/02\/agbaji-community-commends-saraki-for-ramadan-support-youth-employment-opportunities\/","name":"agbaji-community-commends-saraki-for-ramadan-support-youth-employment-opportunities","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-02-20-at-21.15.08.jpeg","alt":""},"title":"Agbaji Community Commends Saraki for Ramadan Support, Youth Employment Opportunities","author":{"name":"Adebayo","link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Feb 22, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-22 08:17:07","modifiedDate":"2026-02-22 08:17:09","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-22 08:17:09","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/kwara-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kwara News<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/kwara-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kwara News<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":"<a href='https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/tag\/kwara\/' rel='post_tag'>Kwara<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/tag\/kwara-state\/' rel='post_tag'>kwara state<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":57},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":15034,"link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/2026\/02\/pdp-youth-leader-commends-distinguish-senator-abubakar-bukola-saraki-for-ramadan-support-to-youth-structures\/","name":"pdp-youth-leader-commends-distinguish-senator-abubakar-bukola-saraki-for-ramadan-support-to-youth-structures","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-02-20-at-20.36.32.jpeg","alt":""},"title":"PDP Youth Leader Commends Distinguish Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki for Ramadan Support to Youth Structures","author":{"name":"Adebayo","link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Feb 22, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-22 08:06:35","modifiedDate":"2026-02-22 08:06:37","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-22 08:06:37","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/kwara-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kwara News<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/kwara-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kwara News<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":7},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":15031,"link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/2026\/02\/sodex-completes-testnet-airdrop-snapshot\/","name":"sodex-completes-testnet-airdrop-snapshot","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image.png","alt":""},"title":"SoDEX Completes Testnet Airdrop Snapshot","author":{"name":"Adebayo","link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Feb 12, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-12 10:02:27","modifiedDate":"2026-02-12 10:02:30","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-12 10:02:30","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/crypto-currencies\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Crypto Currencies<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/crypto-currencies\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Crypto Currencies<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":28},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":15027,"link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/2026\/02\/woro-killings-this-is-a-national-disaster-says-saraki\/","name":"woro-killings-this-is-a-national-disaster-says-saraki","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-02-04-at-21.19.12.jpeg","alt":""},"title":"Woro Killings: This is a National Disaster, Says Saraki","author":{"name":"Adebayo","link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Feb 4, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-04 20:29:17","modifiedDate":"2026-02-04 20:29:19","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-04 20:29:19","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/kwara-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kwara News<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/kwara-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kwara News<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":53},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":15026,"link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/2026\/02\/pdp-condemns-fresh-bandit-attack-on-woro-community-urges-government-to-deploy-humanitarian-aid\/","name":"pdp-condemns-fresh-bandit-attack-on-woro-community-urges-government-to-deploy-humanitarian-aid","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG-20260118-WA0005.jpg","alt":""},"title":"PDP Condemns Fresh Bandit Attack on Woro Community, Urges Government to Deploy Humanitarian Aid","author":{"name":"Adebayo","link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Feb 4, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-04 20:20:11","modifiedDate":"2026-02-04 20:20:16","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-04 20:20:16","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/kwara-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kwara News<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/kwara-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kwara News<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":0},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":15020,"link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/2026\/02\/kwaras-2026-budget-accountability-under-fire\/","name":"kwaras-2026-budget-accountability-under-fire","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-02-04-at-11.11.04.jpeg","alt":""},"title":"KWARA\u2019S 2026 BUDGET: Accountability under Fire","author":{"name":"Adebayo","link":"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Feb 4, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-04 19:42:43","modifiedDate":"2026-02-04 19:49:38","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-04 19:49:38","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/opinion\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Opinion<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kwaralefro.com\/category\/opinion\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Opinion<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":31},"status":"publish","excerpt":""}]
