Thabo Bester: Charred body used in prison escape identified

Charred body used to fake Thabo Bester’s death in 2022 has been identified to be Katleho Mpholo.

In May 2022, the convicted murderer and rapist faked his death at Mangaung Maximum Prison in the Free State.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the identity of the body following DNA tests.

“Police can confirm that the charred body found in cell 35 at Mangaung Correctional Centre has been identified following a direct match with the biological mother of the deceased. The family has been notified by the Investigating Officer As difficult as this news is, the SAPS is pleased to bring closure to the family,” Mathe added.

Katleho was a father of two and would have turned 32-year-old on May 18.

Speaking to eNCA in an interview, Katleho’s father, Batho Bareng Mpholo from Tembisa confirmed the disappearance of his son who was living with his grandmother in Bloemfontein.

Following his disappearance the father contacted the mother.

“I asked when she last spoke to Katleho, and she said it has been weeks. That’s when I asked her to check with her mother who was staying with Katleho,” Mpholo said.

“He added that the grandmother did confirm that she had not seen Katleho in over a month and a missing person’s case was opened with the Bloemfontein police. The grandmother, the mother and other relatives went to different mortuaries looking for him but couldn’t find him,” he said.

“On Saturday, the police confirmed the mother’s DNA was a match to a body that was found charred in Thabo Bester’s prison cell,” he added.

Mpholo revealed that the police said that Katleho collapsed in Bloemfontein town because he was short of blood and was taken to a hospital where he passed away and was taken to a government mortuary, but he didn’t believe the story.

The father of the deceased seeks answers from Thabo.

“The family went to several mortuaries in Bloemfontein and his body was never found, I also need to know how Bester got hold of my son’s body at a government mortuary,” he added.