{"id":485237,"date":"2023-03-25T09:02:27","date_gmt":"2023-03-25T07:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/?p=485237"},"modified":"2023-03-25T09:04:02","modified_gmt":"2023-03-25T07:04:02","slug":"facebook-rapist-ran-high-end-media-company-from-prison","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/technology\/485237-facebook-rapist-ran-high-end-media-company-from-prison.html","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Facebook rapist&#8221; ran high-end media company from prison"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester ran a glamorous media company from prison.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">21st Century Media was made to look like a subsidiary of 21st Century Fox and was responsible for the \u201cWomen in Media\u201d conference, which turned out to be a scam.<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Bester created a new persona, \u201cTom Motsepe\u201d, posing as the company\u2019s chairman based in New York.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester was running a multi-million rand scam business while serving a life sentence for rape and murder at Mangaung Correctional Centre.<\/p>\n<p>Bester posed as the \u201cchairman\u201d of 21st Century Media, a scam event and production company, which was made to look like a subsidiary of 21st Century Fox.<\/p>\n<p>21st Century Media became the subject of a social media storm in 2018 for promoting a \u201cWomen in Media\u201d conference with Hollywood A-listers as guest speakers, which turned out to be a scam.\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"gu_counter\" class=\"leave\" src=\"https:\/\/republish.groundup.org.za\/counter\/hit\/12618\/thabo-bester-ran-glitzy-multi-million-rand-scam---from-behind-bars\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>GroundUp has pictures and video footage of the glitzy launch of 21st Century Media in 2018, held at the Hilton Hotel in Sandton. The event was attended by members of Johannesburg\u2019s high society, including celebrities Amanda Du Pont and Yvonne Chaka Chaka.<\/p>\n<p>Attendees were told that the chairman of the company, \u201cTom Motsepe\u201d, would video call in from New York. But unbeknown to the audience, the man appearing on the big screen was actually convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester, speaking from prison.<\/p>\n<p>Bester appears in front of a white wall wearing a suit and designer watch. A\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1KU3iH-2-sUbWpsU0gWA5nmqPpLQvO9W6\/view?usp=share_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">highlights video<\/a><\/strong>, made after the event, contains a clip of the audience singing happy birthday to \u201cTom\u201d. The date of the conference was 13 June 2018. Thabo Bester was born on 13 June.<\/p>\n<p>At the time of the event, Bester was serving a life sentence at Mangaung Correctional Center, a private maximum security prison operated by multinational company G4S.<\/p>\n<p>GroundUp published\u00a0compelling evidence\u00a0last week that Bester <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/trending\/484459-facebook-rapist-may-have-pulled-off-sensational-prison-escape.html\">faked his death<\/a><\/strong> in a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/internet\/477203-facebook-rapist-murdered-in-his-cell.html\">cell fire<\/a><\/strong> and escaped from prison in May 2022. There are also\u00a0indications\u00a0that he has been running a new business with celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_485239\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Thabo-Bester-Photoshop-Michael-B-Jordan.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-485239\" class=\"size-full wp-image-485239\" src=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Thabo-Bester-Photoshop-Michael-B-Jordan.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"412\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Thabo-Bester-Photoshop-Michael-B-Jordan.jpg 640w, https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Thabo-Bester-Photoshop-Michael-B-Jordan-600x386.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-485239\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A photo of \u201cTom Motsepe\u201d, posted to Twitter, in which \u201cTom\u2019s\u201d head is edited onto the body of Michael B. Jordan. Original photo inlaid, top left. Copied for fair use<\/p><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"my-4\">\u201cTom Motsepe\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>Thabo Bester has used aliases throughout his criminal career. While running 21st Century Media, he was known as \u201cTom Motsepe\u201d and claimed to be related to businessman Patrice Motsepe.<\/p>\n<p>GroundUp spoke to several former employees of 21st Century Media. They said that \u201cTom\u201d was hands-on in the company\u2019s operations and would send money whenever it was needed. Everyone was acting under direct instructions from \u201cTom\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>According to former employees, he was able to persuade people to quit their jobs at established media houses to join the company. He had researched the industry well and senior members of the media knew about him, one former employee told GroundUp.<\/p>\n<p>Recruits of 21st Century Media were led to believe they would be working with an industry-leading company. \u201cTom\u201d introduced himself to them as an executive of 21st Century Fox and Sky Digital.<\/p>\n<p>A Twitter account for \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/mobile.twitter.com\/tom_motsepe\">Tom Motsepe<\/a>\u201d contains photos of Bester\u2019s face edited onto other people\u2019s bodies. In one picture, his face is edited onto American actor Michael B. Jordan\u2019s body.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_485243\" style=\"width: 760px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Thabo-Bester-Tom-Motsepe-website-screenshot.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-485243\" class=\"size-full wp-image-485243\" src=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Thabo-Bester-Tom-Motsepe-website-screenshot.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Thabo-Bester-Tom-Motsepe-website-screenshot.jpg 750w, https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Thabo-Bester-Tom-Motsepe-website-screenshot-600x270.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-485243\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Copied for fair use<\/p><\/div>\n<p>An archived copy of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180806203305\/http:\/\/tommotsepe.com\/\">tommotsepe.com<\/a>\u00a0shows Bester wearing the same outfit he wore on the night of the company launch. The website contains several blog posts on business management.<\/p>\n<p>Bester had invented an extensive backstory for \u201cTom\u201d. A Board of Directors document for another of his companies, 21st Century Group, includes a profile that describes \u201cTom\u201d as a \u201cSouth African investment strategist magnate\u201d, a \u201cprogressive and innovative businessman\u201d, and a \u201cthought leader\u201d with \u201csound knowledge of how to operate a successful global brand\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTom\u201d, the profile claims, holds a Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of Cape Town and a Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Investment and Securities from Harvard University.<\/p>\n<p>The profile lists several companies started by \u201cTom\u201d, including \u201cthe world\u2019s largest promotion company\u201d which he started at the age of 21. It also says that he specialises in mining, investment and media.<\/p>\n<p>According to the profile, \u201cTom\u201d owned 33.5% of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Viacom_(2005%E2%80%932019)\">Viacom<\/a>, 12.9% of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.20thcenturystudios.com\/\">20th Century Fox<\/a>\u00a0and \u201cwent on to occupy\u201d\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/UBS\">UBS Financial Services<\/a>\u00a0in Switzerland. (This is all ludicrous of course.)<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_485245\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/21st-Century-Media-launch-event-photo.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-485245\" class=\"size-full wp-image-485245\" src=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/21st-Century-Media-launch-event-photo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/21st-Century-Media-launch-event-photo.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/21st-Century-Media-launch-event-photo-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/21st-Century-Media-launch-event-photo-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/21st-Century-Media-launch-event-photo-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-485245\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Phumudzo Thenga (centre, black dress), pictured with others who attended the launch event. Photo: Supplied<\/p><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"my-4\">21st Century Group and its fake companies<\/h2>\n<p>21st Century Media (Pty) Ltd was registered as a company with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission in 2018. The sole director was Phumudzo Thenga. Thenga was also the sole director of 11 other registered companies with names similar to well-known international companies. All of them, including 21st Century Media, have since been deregistered.<\/p>\n<p>Companies registered by Thenga include \u201cUBS Group\u201d (the same name as a giant financial services firm), \u201cUnited Talent Agency\u201d (the same name as one of the biggest international casting agencies) and \u201cBlack Phoenix Digital\u201d (the same name as a UK-based PR company).<\/p>\n<p>Thenga was also the sole director of \u201cTM Financials\u201d, which one former employee told us stood for \u201cTom Motsepe Financials\u201d and shared offices with 21st Century Media.<\/p>\n<p>Another was \u201cSky Digital\u201d, the logo of which was displayed on a banner at the 21st Century Media launch event and bore a striking resemblance to the logo of the UK-based television network Sky News. The logos for 21st Century Media and 21st Century Group displayed on the banner were also very similar to those of their real counterpart.<\/p>\n<p>Promotion social media posts for the \u201cWomen in Media\u201d conference include a logo for \u201cUBS Group\u201d, which is almost identical to the logo of the Swiss investment giant UBS.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_485247\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/21st-Century-Media-launch-event-attendees-with-logos-in-background.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-485247\" class=\"size-full wp-image-485247\" src=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/21st-Century-Media-launch-event-attendees-with-logos-in-background.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/21st-Century-Media-launch-event-attendees-with-logos-in-background.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/21st-Century-Media-launch-event-attendees-with-logos-in-background-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/21st-Century-Media-launch-event-attendees-with-logos-in-background-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/21st-Century-Media-launch-event-attendees-with-logos-in-background-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-485247\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Attendees in front of banners at the event. On the far left of the image, the real logo for the company Sky is featured. Photo supplied<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_485249\" style=\"width: 263px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Thabo-Bester-21st-Century-Media-launch-company-logos.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-485249\" class=\"size-full wp-image-485249\" src=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Thabo-Bester-21st-Century-Media-launch-company-logos.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"253\" height=\"200\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-485249\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A close up of some of the logos and their counterparts.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>According to former employees, Thenga was the CEO of the company but was very rarely at the office. A full-time \u201cManaging Director\u201d ran daily operations and \u201cTom\u201d would give direct instructions to employees.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTom\u201d was supposedly based in New York, so there was always a time zone difference. It is possible that it was easier for Bester to have private access to a phone, laptop, and internet at night time.<\/p>\n<p>The company had luxurious offices in Sandton and more than 30 employees. Employees were apparently given brand-new laptops. One former employee told us that there did not seem to be any real strategy or business plan; money would always be available.<\/p>\n<p>Several television productions were supposedly being worked on but they were never filmed. The company even held auditions for the shows, which were attended by several famous South African actors, the former employees told us.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"my-4\">The \u2018Women in Media\u2019 Scam<\/h2>\n<p>21st Century Media made\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ewn.co.za\/2018\/08\/10\/women-in-media-conf-organisers-suing-taraji-p-henson-s-agency-over-fake-booking\">headlines\u00a0<\/a>in 2018 after advertising a \u201cWomen in Media\u201d conference which turned out to be a scam. Tickets were sold for R1,250 each and Hollywood A-listers Halle Berry and Taraji P. Henson were advertised as guest speakers.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_485251\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Thabo-Bester-21st-Century-Media-Women-in-Media-event.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-485251\" class=\"size-full wp-image-485251\" src=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Thabo-Bester-21st-Century-Media-Women-in-Media-event.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Thabo-Bester-21st-Century-Media-Women-in-Media-event.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Thabo-Bester-21st-Century-Media-Women-in-Media-event-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Thabo-Bester-21st-Century-Media-Women-in-Media-event-800x400.jpg 800w, https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Thabo-Bester-21st-Century-Media-Women-in-Media-event-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-485251\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Posters featured Halle Berry and Taraji P. Henson. Images supplied<\/p><\/div>\n<p>But when Berry and Henson publicly distanced themselves from the event, a media outcry followed and the event was cancelled.<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cWomen in Media\u201d saga was the beginning of the end for 21st Century Media, former employees told us. They had lost all credibility as a company and were even faced with legal action by the real 21st Century Fox.<\/p>\n<p>South African media personality Bonang Matheba was set to host the \u201cWomen in Media\u201d event but\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/bonangmatheba.com\/bonang-matheba-statement-on-international-women-in-media-conference\/\">backed out<\/a>\u00a0after it emerged that Berry and Henson would not be participating.<\/p>\n<p>According to the event\u2019s promotional posters, M-Net channel 1Magic was the official media partner for the event. M-Net did not respond to GroundUp\u2019s questions. At the time of the event, M-Net\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.news24.com\/channel\/1magic-mum-on-international-women-in-media-conference-involvement-20180813\">declined<\/a>\u00a0to answer questions from the media.<\/p>\n<p>The promotional posters also contained links to addresses in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.realestate.bnpparibas.co.uk\/property\/listing\/flex_1793-33-soho-square-33-soho-square\">London<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mapquest.com\/us\/new-york\/news-corporation-355214113\">New York<\/a>. The New York address appears to be that of 21st Century Fox.<\/p>\n<p>After it emerged that Henson was not aware of the event, 21st Century Media issued a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1Wk-SlQQudpAyxMJktucazKzsUtDpyRO9\/view?usp=drivesdk\">statement<\/a>\u00a0denying that they had falsely advertised the event.<\/p>\n<p>The company said that the conference was intended to \u201cbuild leadership and women empowerment in Africa\u201d. It called it a non-profit initiative funded by 21st Century Group \u201cas a means of giving back to women in Africa\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>In a subsequent statement, the company expressed disappointment with Berry and Henson for \u201cwithdrawing\u201d from the event and said that legal action was being taken against the agencies through whom they had booked the guest speakers. The company said the event would go ahead but would be by invitation only.<\/p>\n<p>Former employees told GroundUp that they were under the impression that the event was real.<\/p>\n<p>They were told that contracts were being signed with the guest speakers and deposits were paid for local celebrities and venue hire.<\/p>\n<p>GroundUp understands that the event never took place. Former employees told us that soon after the media storm, rumours started circulating in the office that 21st Century Media was going to shut down.<\/p>\n<p>But even after this debacle, the company apparently signed a lease for an additional floor of office space in Sandton, which stood empty for about six months.<\/p>\n<p>The former employees said that although they got paid their monthly salaries, they later found out that tax and unemployment insurance were deducted from their salaries but never transferred to SARS and the Department of Labour.<\/p>\n<p>The former employees who spoke to GroundUp said that they all had moments where they became suspicious about who \u201cTom\u201d really is, but never really gave it much thought. It was only years after, upon seeing our reports on Bester\u2019s escape, that they joined the dots.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey ruined so many lives,\u201d said one employee, who quit her job to join the company. Almost four years after the \u201cWomen in Media\u201d debacle, she has not been able to find another job.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"my-4\">Who is Phumudzo Thenga?<\/h2>\n<p>Phumudzo Thenga, the sole director of 21st Century Media, describes herself as a \u201cserial entrepreneur\u201d on her LinkedIn Page. After 21st Century Media shut its doors, Thenga started a new group of companies called Lwendo.<\/p>\n<p>At first, Lwendo offered media services but it now focuses on minerals and resources. According to Lwendo\u2019s website, the company provides a variety of services including supplying and transporting fuel and coal. They also provide office stationery and IT services. The website claims that the company\u2019s clients include Eskom, Exxaro, and Emfuleni Municipality.<\/p>\n<p>Thenga\u2019s companies have a track record of bidding on tenders. We have found numerous instances of unsuccessful tenders they have applied for, from office stationery to diesel.<\/p>\n<p>Lwendo Minerals was recently told by police to evacuate a residential property in Johannesburg. The company was illegally parking fuel tankers on the property.<\/p>\n<p>Thenga is married to a senior official in Ekurhuleni Municipality. He is a director of one of her companies, Lovebirds Transport, and was a director of Lwendo Foods.<\/p>\n<p>We asked Thenga for comment via email. She first responded that she believed she had been scammed and arranged to meet us via video call. But shortly before our scheduled meeting, she emailed us to say that on legal advice, she would not attend the meeting.<\/p>\n<p>We gave her another opportunity to respond to questions but received no response.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"my-4\">How could a convicted rapist and murderer run a business from prison?<\/h2>\n<p>According to the Correctional Services Act, sentenced offenders are not allowed to work or conduct business \u201con their own account\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>But illicit businesses run from prison are not uncommon in South Africa. The illicit trade of cell phones and drugs, often aided by prison officials, is a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.news24.com\/news24\/southafrica\/news\/warder-arrested-drugs-and-cellphones-found-during-raid-at-st-albans-prison-20220322\">known problem<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Nonetheless, it is troubling that an inmate serving a life sentence from a maximum security prison and the second-largest private prison in the world was able to run such an elaborate business from behind bars. It is astounding that a convicted violent sex offender should have free access to the internet. It is weird that he had access to a suit.<\/p>\n<p>Inmates at Mangaung Correctional Center who spoke to GroundUp (on unlawfully-traded cell phones) said that it would have been relatively easy for Bester to obtain a cell phone.<\/p>\n<p>Laptops were allowed in the prison for inmates who were studying. GroundUp has previously reported that, according to Magudumana, Bester was studying through Damelin.<\/p>\n<p>But for Bester to run this type of business &#8211; and to escape from prison later &#8211; he would have had to have the support of officials working at the prison.<\/p>\n<p>We spoke on the phone to Stephan Page and Gert Byleveldt, head of HR and audit respectively at Mangaung Correctional Center. Both declined to comment. Byleveldt said that a lawyer is being consulted on how to answer our questions on the matter.<\/p>\n<p>At the time of publication, G4S\u2019s communications team had not responded to our enquiries.<\/p>\n<p>In response to our questions, Department of Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo told GroundUp that the investigation is ongoing and \u201cwe are therefore unable to extract particular elements at this stage\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnce again, we are appealing that we are allowed to conclude the investigation and provide a conclusive report,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Brigadier Motantsi Makhele of the South African Police Service, again told us that their investigation had reached \u201ca very critical stage\u201d and that it \u201cwon\u2019t be in the interest of justice to give any comment now as advised by the investigating team\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Magudumana\u2019s lawyer appears to have stopped responding to our requests for comments.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>By\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.groundup.org.za\/author\/583\/\" rel=\"author\">Daniel Steyn<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.groundup.org.za\/author\/508\/\" rel=\"author\">Marecia Damons<\/a> for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.groundup.org.za\/article\/thabo-bester-ran-glitzy-multi-million-rand-scam---from-behind-bars\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GroundUp<\/a>. Republished under CC BY-ND 4.0.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"my-4\">Now read:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/trending\/484459-facebook-rapist-may-have-pulled-off-sensational-prison-escape.html\">&#8220;Facebook rapist&#8221; may have pulled off sensational prison escape<\/a><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester was running a multi-million rand scam business while serving a life sentence for rape and murder at Mangaung Correctional Centre.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":341078,"featured_media":485241,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[10046,35,84991,10048],"class_list":["post-485237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","tag-facebook-rapist","tag-headline","tag-nandipha-magudumana","tag-thabo-bester"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/485237"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/341078"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=485237"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/485237\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/485241"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=485237"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=485237"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=485237"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}