The orchestrated escape of Facebook rapist Thabo Bester from the Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC) has returned to the spotlight following allegations of an escape by convicted murderer Sandile Mantsoe.

Allegations have been made on social media that Mantsoe and Bester once shared a prison cell with two other people. At least three people took to social media to allege they had spotted Mantsoe in Johannesburg. He is supposed to be serving his 32-year sentence, handed down in 2018 for the murder of his girlfriend Karabo Mokoena.

i think i saw karabo mokoena’s murderer, sandile mantsoe, in braam today

— golekane (@Allumi_) September 26, 2023

Mokoena’s body was found in an open veld by a passerby in Lyndhurst, Johannesburg, near the residential area of Mantsoe’s parent’s residence in 2017. Her body was found burned beyond recognition. Before she was found he took part in assisting with the search. After the body was found, he denied killing her.

Following the discovery of evidence, he was arrested and charged with the kidnapping of Mokoena. At a later stage, he was charged with murder and defeating the ends of justice by burning Mokoena’s body, and also assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm for a case Mokoena had reported before her death.

Confirmation report:Standerton Correctional Center

Date: 02/10/2023
Time:16:35

Description:

At about 16:35 we asked for an assurance that offender Sandile Kagiso Mantsoe is still in custody.

Mantsoe was sentenced to 20 years for murder and still has an outstanding case.… https://t.co/sEALgJnKP3

— Chrispin Phiri ???? (@Chrispin_JPhiri) October 2, 2023

The allegations that Mantsoe has escaped prison have been refuted by the government. The spokesperson in the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services, Chrispin Phiri, said Mantsoe is still in prison, serving his sentence at the Standerton Correctional Centre. He will appear in court for fraud on 18 October. It has been alleged he had lured victims to invest R2 million into his company. 

Claims that suggest Bester and Mantsoe have previously shared a prison cell have also been refuted. The spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services, Singabakho Nxumalo, has denied the allegations. “Bester and Manstoe have never shared a prison cell.” He has also labelled the alleged escape by Mantsoe as fake news. 

So Sandile Mantsoe might have pulled a Thabo Bester too???? pic.twitter.com/ZxaYCRckn0

— ?????? ????????? (@TheGyal_) October 2, 2023

Bester is currently on trial for escaping from prison. Amongst his co-accused is his girlfriend Nandipha Magudumana. She and others are facing charges which include aiding and abetting Bester’s escape, fraud and defeating the ends of justice. A burnt body was found in Bester’s cell in May 2022 and it was believed that it was his body.

After Bester and Magudumana’s arrest in Tanzania, the DNA/identity of the corpse found in the cell was revealed to be of the 32-year-old Katlego Bereng. The details of how his body ended up in the cell are still to be determined in court.

OFM News/Tshehla Koteli