By Marcus Moloko
Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester has been transferred to South Africa’s most secure prison, eBongweni Super Maximum Correctional Centre in Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal, where alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala is also being held.
Bester
Bester was convicted of rape and murder after luring women online. He is serving a life sentence.
In 2022, he staged an escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein by faking his death in a fire.
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He was later arrested in Tanzania in April 2023 alongside his partner, Dr. Nandipha Magudumana, and extradited to South Africa.
Initially held at Kgosi Mampuru II C-Max in Pretoria, Bester has now been moved to eBongweni Super Maximum Prison in Kokstad, considered the country’s tightest security facility.
Vusimuzi Cat Matlala
Matlala faces 25 charges, including 11 counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, fraud, money laundering, and defeating the ends of justice.
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One of the alleged attempted hits was on his ex-girlfriend, socialite Tebogo Thobejane.
In December 2025, Matlala was moved to eBongweni Super Maximum Prison. His lawyers have petitioned the Johannesburg High Court to have him relocated closer to Gauteng, arguing that his detention in Kokstad hampers access to legal proceedings.
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