Bester, a murderer and rapist who had served time, was said to have passed away in cell 35 in May of last year. However, after GroundUp revealed that the body discovered in the cell was not his, police finally acknowledged last month that Bester had fled from custody.
GroundUp revealed that an autopsy report showed that the deceased had died due to blunt force trauma to the head and was already dead before the fire in the cell. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that the body had been positively identified and the family notified.
“As difficult as this news is, the SAPS is pleased to bring closure to the family,” Mathe added.
On Friday afternoon, Batho Mpholo received the call that Bloemfontein police had informed his son’s mother, Monica Matsie, that the DNA test results had returned – and that the body was that of their missing son.
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, SAPS national spokeserson, says police confirmed that the charred body found in cell 35 at Mangaung Correctional Centre was identified via DNA testing that matched with the deceased biological mother. ‘The family has been notified by the investigating officer.
No further comment will be provided. As difficult as this news is, the SA Police Service is pleased to bring closure to the family.’
Mpholo says his son disappeared soon after losing his job at a restaurant in Bloemfontein.
The burned body that was initially believed to be Bester’s when it was discovered in cell 35 of the Mangaung Correctional Center last year has now been identified by police.
Thabo Bester and Dr. Nandipha Magudumana were detained in Tanzania on Friday night, according to a press conference that was hastily organized, frequently confusing, and short on details.
There was a warrant of arrest and it was executed and one suspect is still at large, I am told. And a third person, who transported the dead body to Mangaung, is also expected to be arrested soon.
“The South African police can’t confirm it is them based on the information that they are receiving from Tanzania. However, Tanzanian police are making contact with the South African police,” the source said.
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