By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GalloImages.
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has confirmed the man dubbed the “Facebook rapist” Thabo Bester, has died in his prison cell in Mangaung.
“His cell had been on fire and he was found to have sustained some burn wounds,” said DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo.
He was alone in a cell that caught alight, Nxumalo said.
Nxumalo said an investigation was under way to determine whether the fire was started intentionally or not
Bester was first convicted of raping and robbing two aspirant models whom he had approached, pretending to be a model scout. In a separate trial, he was convicted of robbing and murdering a third woman, Nomfundo Tyhulu.
He claimed the two of them had been in a long-distance relationship and he killed her when she came to visit him, robbing her of her items and leaving her body in a Cape Town guest house.
He was 22 and 23 when he committed the crimes.
In October 2011, after pleading guilty to raping and robbing the two women, he burst into tears in the Durban magistrate’s court and explained what made him to commit his crimes.
Bester had been sentenced to more than 50 years which was later decreased to 30 years. For Tyhulu’s murder, he had been sentenced to life.