Don’t be duped by this catfish account

He’s done it before while incarcerated, but Twitter users are convinced that a man using the handle @realthabobester, is not, in fact, the real Thabo Bester.

The mysterious tweep has been posting up a storm following Bester’s re-arrest earlier this month.

But could the social media be the convicted criminal who is currently behind bars at the Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria?

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TWITTER USER ASSUMES IDENTITY OF CONVICTED CRIMINAL

While Thabo Bester awaits his next court appearance next month on an array of charges – including escaping his Mangaung prison cell in May 2022 – a Twitter user has assumed his identity.

The account @realthabobester cites its location as the Magaung Correctional Centre. It also claims to have joined the social media platform in 2015.

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And then there are the tweets.

The user has been responding to various posts about the convicted criminal, who escaped prison with the help of his alleged girlfriend, Nandipha Magudumana.

They’ve also been tweeting as if they are the notorious rapist and murdered.

“I wouldn’t mind spending my last years here, like legend I am,” the account replied to a tweet about Robben Island.

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But their tweet had a South African attorney reeling in anger.

Mary-Jane Maphelele – who uses the handle @maryjaneexplore – clapped back: “Anyone who’d want to pretend they’re a convicted murderer and rapist on Twitter is sick in the head. Get help, loser”.

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IS IT THE REAL THABO BESTER?

It’s highly unlikely that the Twitter imposter is Thabo Bester. In a media briefing earlier this month, Minister of Police Bheki Cele, Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola, and National Commissioner of Correctional Services Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale explained how they would ensure Bester’s safe prison placement.

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This included keeping Bester at Kgosi Mampuru’s C-Max prison – a maximum security division in Pretoria.

Addressing the media, authorities revealed that Thabo Bester would be afforded:

• 24-hour surveillance
• Round-the-clock contact with “selected high trade correctional officers.”
• Assurance that Bester would not harm himself or others

There’s also the fact that Thabo Bester never used his real name on social media. Over the years, Bester has assumed many identities, including TK Nkwana and Tom Motsepe.