The burnt body that was found in Thabo Bester's prison cell last year has been identified. Katleho Mpholo was identified as the man whose charred body was found in cell number 35 after the convicted rapists and murderer Bester faked his death in May 2022 at Mangaung Maximum Prison in the Free State. 

POLICE CONFIRMATION 

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that the deceased had been identified through 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. Previously, the police said the man in cell 35 on the 3rd of May 2022 did not die from smoke inhalation but from a blunt force trauma to the head. Bester is said to have first applied to have a single cell on 15 April 2022, allegedly in fear for his life but withdrew the application two days later. He, however, again applied on 30 April of the same year and was moved to the cell whilst his application was pending approval.  

FATHER SPEAKS 

In an interview with eNCA, Katleho's father Batho Bareng Mpholo from Tembisa said his son was living with his grandmother in Bloemfontein and he had disappeared for over a month on social media and his phone off when he contacted his mother in April 2022. "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. Mpholo added that the police contacted the mother and requested her to submit DNA for comparison to a body. The family received information from Pretoria Forensic Laboratory that they will come for another DNA sample themselves. " 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 also said he does not believe the police's version that Katleho collapsed in Bloemfontein town because he was short of blood and was taken to hospital where he passed away and taken to government mortuary. "The family went to several mortuaries is 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. Katleho was a father of two and would have turned 32 on May 18 this year. 

MORE ARRESTS EXPECTED  

As investigations into Bester's escape continue, police confirmed more arrests are expected. The convicted murderer and Facebook rapist will make his second court appearance alongside his lover Dr Nandipha's father Zolile Sekeleni on 16 May 2023 before the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court. Dr Nandipha, will be back in court with the three other co-accused, on Wednesday 3 May 2023, exactly a year after Bester's escape.