Beauty and the Bester is a three-part true crime documentary series released on Netflix on 12 September 2025, by production company, Storyscope. It explores the story of convicted South African murderer and rapist Thabo Bester, who faked his death and escaped from prison in 2022, and his relationship with the celebrity doctorNandipha Magudumana, who allegedly became involved in the escape.
The docu-series delves into themes of crime, deception, prison breaks, and the enigmatic ties between Magudumana and Bester, drawing comparisons to stories like Bonnie and Clyde. It received mixed reviews from critics and media outlets, which mostly praised its authenticity. Beauty and the Bester is second documentary on the subject, following Showmax's Tracking Thabo Bester, which was released in 2024. Magudumana is currently held captive at the Bizzah Makhate Correctional Centre, a women-only prison, in Kroonstad, Free State. Bester is held in C-Max, a maximum-security facility at Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria.
Production and release
Released on Netflix on 12 September 2025 and presented by Storyscope,[1]Beauty and the Bester is a three-episode true crime documentary based on the prison escape of South African convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester.[2] Directed by Anthony Molyneaux,[3] it delves into the story of Bester, and his connection with the celebrity doctorNandipha Magudumana, who is alleged to have assisted in his escape.[4] Siyabonga Sithole, Sean Ou Tim, and Fezile Thela composed the score for the documentary.[3]
The documentary employs a nonlinear narrative structure, featuring talking-head interviews with journalists, a judge, family members, friends, coworkers, and survivors. It combines investigative journalism, raw interviews, and archival footages. However, some reviews suggest that the timeline can feel cluttered and might benefit from a more linear approach.[5]
Thabo Bester, born on 13 June 1986 at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa, gained infamy as the "Facebook Rapist" for using social media to target victims. Known for his manipulative charm and intelligence, he deceived both victims and authorities, establishing himself as one of South Africa's most notorious con men. His criminal activities extended beyond his publicized offenses, culminating in a sophisticated prison escape that highlighted his ability to manipulate people and situations.[6]
Magudumana attending a court case at the Free State High Court on 19 September 2025.
Magudumana claimed she first met Bester at the University of Witswatersrand in 2006, where he allegedly studied theology. However, according to the Department of Home Affairs, Bester only has a grade 7 education.[14] According GroundUp, Magudumana began visiting Bester in prison in 2017 while he was serving three concurrent life sentences for two counts of rape, one count of murder, and armed robbery.[14] Magudumana stated that she began dating him in 2017, and he paid lobola for her in 2020.[15] The pair co-founded Arum Properties, a construction company in 2021. GroundUp used a March 2023 piece to allege that they used the firm to scam people, and that it convinced numerous people to pay millions of rands for renovations and construction projects of which they never delivered.[16]
In May 2022, Bester allegedly faked his death and escaped from Mangaung Prison, a private facility operated by G4S.[2][17] On 7 April 2023,[7] Magudumana was arrested in Arusha, Tanzania, alongside Bester,[18] and extradited to South Africa six days later.[7][18] Their car journey from South Africa to Tanzania, echoing Bonnie and Clyde's tale through their audacious crimes and romantic bond, ended with their dramatic apprehension in Arusha,[18] fueling widespread comparisons in modern media and public discourse.[3] Magudumana has since been detained at the Bizzah Makhate Correctional Centre, a women-only prison, in Kroonstad, Free State.[19] Bester is held in C-Max, a maximum-security facility at Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria.[20]
Dispute
To promote Beauty and the Bester, Netflix announced its release date of 12 September 2025, on 20 August 2025, and unveiled a trailer on their social media accounts.[21]
Prior to the release, Bester and his co-accused, Magudumana, filed an injunction in the Pretoria High Court on 11 September 2025 to permanently block Netflix from releasing and promoting Beauty and the Bester without Bester's consent. Their lawyers argued that the documentary contained defamatory content.[22]
On behalf of Netflix, Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi informed the court that Netflix contends Magudumana was paid for granting access to her archives, which were incorporated into the documentary. Ngcukaitobi argued that it would be shocking if the court blocked the documentary's release, as it primarily draws on publicly disclosed information. The documentary compiles and presents material that has been widely available through investigative journalism, parliamentary discussions, and social media.[23] On 12 September 2025, the judge presiding over the case ruled in Netflix's favour and added that the pair would still be free to sue for defamation if they wished, only after the documentary had aired. Beauty and the Bester was aired hours after the judgment was delivered.[24]
Reception
Beauty and the Bester received mixed reviews from critics and media outlets, which mostly praised its authenticity.[25]
Roland Simpi Motaung of the Mail & Guardian said, "it's nothing new under the sun", as he wasn't impressed by the new voice notes and interviews from survivors and former co-workers of Magudumana. He added that everything had already been covered in the Showmax documentary Tracking Thabo Bester, which had the most first-day views of any documentary on Showmax.[3] Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Randall Colburn frames the documentary as "all too real", blending celebrity scams, charred corpses, and escapes into a narrative that "sounds like the stuff of fiction", positioning it as a must-watch for its bizarre authenticity.[26]
Naomi May of Elle magazine labels it one of the "most scandalous true crime documentaries of recent years", emphasizing its chilling escalation of Bester's crimes and global buzz, despite pre-release legal challenges claiming defamation.[6] Fihlani Phumza of BBC News noted that the coverage focuses more on the controversy than on the content, reporting on Bester's lost court bid to block the "defamatory" release, which inadvertently amplified the hype but highlighted the documentary's potential to prejudice his trial.[24]
Katlego Bereng – images of the person whose body was charred and used as a decoy for the escape
Poppie Bereng – Katlego's aunt
Monica Matsie – Katlego's mother
Dr. Mmeraka "Phashy" Ntshani – medical practitioner
Happy Simelane – entrepreneur and TV personality
Episodes
No.
Title
Directed by
Teleplay by
Original release date
1
"A Monster is Dead"
Anthony Molyneaux
TBA
12September2025(2025-09-12)
Covering the initial fire and the faked death, a notorious criminal's life is cut short in fire, sparking widespread shock. However, as suspicions of foul play surfaces, investigators launch a probe to uncover the truth.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
