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When Thabo Bester, the notorious “Facebook Rapist,” faked his death and escaped from a maximum-security prison, it was a story that gripped a nation. But the tale took an even more bizarre turn with the discovery that his accomplice was none other than celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana. This headline-making saga of crime, deception, and a shocking double life has now been chronicled in the Netflix docuseries Beauty and the Bester.
The documentary’s release has sparked renewed debate. It revisits the intricate details of their escape and subsequent capture in Tanzania, offering new interviews and insights. Beauty and the Bester brings to a scandal we thought we knew everything about, and how it navigates the ethics of broadcasting a case that is still making its way through the courts.
- Release Date and Format: The three-part series premiered on Netflix on September 12, 2025.
- Production: It was produced by the company Storyscope.
- Direction: The docuseries was directed by Anthony Molyneaux.
- Episodes: The series consists of three episodes:
- Episode 1: “A Monster is Dead” focuses on Bester’s initial prison escape, where he faked his death in a cell fire at Mangaung prison.
- Episode 2: “Ride or Die” explores the aftermath of the escape, as investigators uncovered the deception, and Dr. Magudumana’s involvement with Bester.
- Episode 3: “Everything to Lose” covers the international manhunt that led to the couple’s capture in Tanzania and their eventual extradition back to South Africa.
Storyline and scope
The docuseries tells the true-crime story of convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester, who faked his death to escape prison in 2022, and the celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana, who allegedly assisted him. The narrative unfolds as a chilling tale of deception, glamour, and criminal activity that captivated South Africa.
The documentary features:
- Investigative insight: It uses raw interviews and investigative journalism to explore the pair’s relationship and criminal activities.
- Witness accounts: The narrative is guided by interviews with journalists who broke the story, a judge, family members of both Bester and Magudumana, and others connected to the case.
- Public fallout: It delves into the events that shocked the nation, including the high-profile hunt for the fugitives, which ended with their arrest in Tanzania.
- Behind-the-scenes access: The docuseries includes courtroom footage and unseen investigative material related to their case.
Production background
- Filming: The production team likely gathered footage and interviews leading up to the September 2025 release. News reports confirming the documentary’s content and upcoming release began circulating in August 2025.
- Legal Challenges: A legal challenge brought by Bester and Magudumana to block the docuseries was dismissed by the High Court in Pretoria just hours before its premiere. The judge ruled that the documentary dealt with matters already in the public domain and that airing it would not prejudice the pair’s fair trial. Netflix’s lawyers also argued that Magudumana had been paid for access to her personal archives used in the documentary.
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