‘Beauty and the Bester’: Dr Nandipha’s Father Speaks Out on Thabo Bester Saga

Netflix’s explosive new docuseries Beauty and the Bester has reignited public fascination with one of South Africa’s most shocking scandals. For the first time, Nandipha Magudumana’s father, Zolile Sekeleni, speaks out about his alleged involvement in the 2022 escape of convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester.

A Father Under Scrutiny

Sekeleni, a 65-year-old from Port Edward, is one of eight people currently facing trial for their alleged role in Bester’s daring escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre. The charges include fraud, aiding an escape, corruption, and even violating a corpse.

In the Netflix series, Sekeleni admits he was pulled into the drama after driving a vehicle to Bloemfontein. That very car was later used to transport the body of Katlego Bereng, whose remains were burned in Bester’s cell to stage his death.

For South Africans following the saga since 2022, this revelation reopens painful questions: was Sekeleni a willing accomplice or a father blindly trying to protect his daughter?

From Proud Dad To Painful Fallout

The series paints a portrait of a father who once admired his daughter’s brilliance as a celebrity doctor but grew alarmed as her relationship with Bester deepened. Introduced to him under the alias “TK Nkwana,” Sekeleni described Bester as a manipulative “psychopath” who changed his daughter’s life forever.

By 2023, the scandal had erupted in the media. Sekeleni recalls his daughter urging him to leave his home, warning that he was “in danger.” His words in the documentary echo the fear many South Africans feel about crime syndicates operating in plain sight:

“It was an oppressive period in our lives. I find myself not knowing whether to blame myself… I was afraid.”

Social Media Reaction

Since its release, Beauty and the Bester has dominated timelines. South Africans on X have been quick to dissect Sekeleni’s comments. Some sympathise with him as a father manipulated by circumstances, while others argue he must be held accountable for his role in transporting Bereng’s body.

One user posted: “Zolile is either the most gullible man alive or he’s hiding something. Justice must decide.”
Another countered: “This is a father who trusted his daughter. We can’t ignore how Bester preyed on everyone around him.”

What Happens Next?

The real answers may only emerge when Sekeleni and his co-accused stand trial at the Bloemfontein High Court on 10 November. South Africa will be watching closely, not just for justice in the Bester case, but for the ripple effects it continues to have on families, institutions, and public trust.

Until then, Beauty and the Bester has laid bare a tragic family story at the heart of one of the country’s darkest crime sagas.

Source:The South African

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