Metro

Thabo Bester, who faked own death to escape from prison, arrested in Tanzania

Published

2 years ago

April 9, 2023

A convicted South African rapist and murderer, Thabo Bester, who faked his own death to escape from prison where he was serving a life sentence for rape, robbery and murder, has been arrested in Tanzania.

Bester, popularly dubbed the “Facebook Rapist”, was convicted in 2012 for allegedly luring victims on the social media platform before raping and robbing them. At his trial, it was established that he had killed at least one of his victims.

Bester had created a buzz in the past one year after it was thought he died by setting himself on fire in his prison cell.

In May 2022, it was reported that the convict had been found dead in his cell after apparently setting himself on fire at the Mangaung Correctional Centre in the city of Bloemfontein but following discrete investigation, the media began to raise doubts about Bester’s death.

The reports led to the police opening a new murder investigation after further tests revealed the deceased was not Bester but an unidentified person who was apparently murdered and set on fire.

Employees of the British-owned security company G4S, which ran the prison where Bester was serving his term, were also accused of helping the fugitive to escape which led to the dismissal of three of them.

During investigation, it was discovered that after escaping from prison, Bester and his girlfriend, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, lived in a rented mansion in Sandton, while Bester used an ID document and driver’s licence under the name ‘Katlego Nkwana’.

The couple operated Arum Properties together, scamming several people into paying millions for construction projects that were never completed.

A manhunt was launched in March after a new post-mortem investigation revealed the body was not actually his, leading to Bester’s arrest on Friday with Magudumana and an accomplice, Zakaria Alberto, as they were believed to be preparing to flee into neighbouring Kenya.

South African Police Minister, Bheki Cele, who addressed a press conference on Saturday, said the three were arrested in Arusha, near the Kenyan border, as they attempted to leave the country.

“We can confirm that escapee Mr Thabo Bester with his accomplice Dr Nandipha Magudumana along with a Mozambican national have been arrested in Tanzania late last night,” Cele said.

“Authorities stopped the black SUV the fugitives were travelling in after it left a hotel. The suspects had arrived in Arusha from Dar es Salaam.

“They were each in possession of several passports. We are confident we will receive maximum cooperation from our sister nation, Tanzania, to bring these fugitives to justice,” he added.

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Metro

EU launches initiative to reintegrate over 417,661 out-of-school children in Nigeria

Published

6 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The European Union (EU) has launched an initiative to reintegrate over 417,661 out-of-school children in Nigeria, particularly in the northwestern parts of the country.

Mrs. Tobi Ransomed, who is the consortium lead, disclosed this during the launching of the “Accelerating Basic Education and Livelihood Opportunities for Children and Youth in North West Nigeria Program” (ABEP), held in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State, on Thursday.

While declaring the event open, Ransomed noted that the high rate of out-of-school children in the region required a holistic approach from all relevant stakeholders to ensure these children reached their potential.

Speaking further, she said the ABEP three-year pilot program would be implemented through Save the Children International, PLAN, and Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAG) across twelve local government areas in Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto States.

“Data from Save the Children International (SCI), has shown that 10% of the world’s out-of-school children are in Nigeria, with over 10 million primary school-age children not in school. Approximately 25% of girls and 10% of boys in the country have been victims of sexual violence,” she stated.

“The program aims to increase access to safe, quality, and inclusive alternative and accelerated education programs for 324,000 young girls and boys, as well as 32,400 persons with disabilities, supporting their transition into formal or non-formal education.

“This project plans to increase access to livelihood opportunities, vocational education, and green job opportunities for 60,000 youths and 6,000 persons with disabilities, with 20,000 beneficiaries in each participating state.

“The overall objective is to contribute to the empowerment of the poorest, underserved, and most marginalized population groups, including women, girls, and youth, by providing access to quality, inclusive, gender-sensitive, and conflict-sensitive education in northwestern Nigeria with a special focus on Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto States,” she stated.

Metro

World Bank pledges $3b to support Zambia’s development goals

Published

1 day ago

November 14, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The World Bank Group has pledged to avail Zambia with approximately $3 billion to support the country’s development goals under the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for 2025-2029, with nearly half of the funds already disbursed.

World Bank Country Manager, Achim Fock, who made this known at the CPF launch at the Mulungushi Conference Centre in Lusaka on Wednesday, outlined the global lender’s focus areas, which included enhancing jobs, human capital, and climate resilience.

Fock highlighted that $200 million had been approved to strengthen Zambia’s social protection programs, including the Refugee and Host Community Project.

He also expressed optimism for upcoming approvals, including the Climate and Economic Resilience Financing and the Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector.

Zambia’s Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, who also spoke at the event, noted that 2.3 million Zambian households have so far benefited from social protection interventions such as the Cash for Work Programme, emphasizing the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives amid crises like the recent drought.

Musokotwane further reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting lives during times of crises such as the recent drought.

“More than two thirds of the Zambian population was affected by the drought. It was the government’s view that the first priority was to save lives,” Musokotwane stated.