Thabo Bester’s ‘conjugal visits’ investigated

G4S, the company managing the Mangaung maximum security prison, may again find itself in hot water after fresh allegations that the prison afforded Facebook rapist and murderer Thabo Bester and his lover Dr Nandipha Magudumana conjugal visits.

This was after the Department of Correctional Services said it had launched an investigation into the allegation that Bester and Magudumana had been offered intimate time together.

Spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said conjugal visits were not allowed in South Africa.

The department’s confirmation came after sources told The Sunday Independent that Bester had been allowed to spend hours with Magudumana inside the prison.

“We are aware of the allegations, and they are being investigated. Inmates are not afforded conjugal (visits) in South Africa,” Nxumalo said.

G4S did not respond to the questions sent to it on Thursday.

Sources at the prison said the visits had been permitted because Bester had allegedly bribed prison officials.

A source said: “Those allegations are true. This is something that was happening.

“His lifestyle in jail was different to everyone (else’s) because he was not even eating our food in prison. Prisoners who were studying were not allowed to charge their laptops in the cells, but he was allowed (to do this).

“Everything would change in a second when it came to him. He had an extension cord connected to his cell. I believe this is because he had money, or maybe they knew something we don’t know.”

Another inmate said the alleged preferential treatment afforded to Bester had been reported to the authorities previously, but nothing had been done.