An evil monster dubbed the “Facebook rapist” in his native South Africa is believed to be alive and on the run after mistakenly being presumed dead last year.

Sick Thabo Bester was sentenced to life behind bars in 2012 for rape, robbery, and murder.

He lured aspiring models through Facebook with the promise of work before raping and robbing them at knifepoint.

He murdered at least one of his victims, 26-year-old model Nomfundo Tyulu.

It was first believed Bester had perished when wardens at Mangaung Prison, Bloemfontein, found a charred body in a cell following a fire in May 2022.

But DNA profiling has now confirmed that the body is not his.

The identity of the deceased is still unclear, but police now know the individual died from blunt force trauma to the head before the blaze.

Police now believe that Bester escaped from prison and is at large. The Department of Correctional Services confirmed this on 25th March.

Spokesman Singabakho Nxumalo told local media: “We are making an appeal to the public to assist should they locate him or if they spot him anywhere, to report that to the nearest police station or in any of our correctional facilities.

“It’s a priority for us to get him behind bars as we consider him to be extremely dangerous.”

The department did not reveal when it first knew that Bester was still alive.

A man resembling the so-called Facebook rapist was spotted at a grocery store in June 2022 and at a shopping centre earlier this month, local media report.

Media in South Africa also report that before his escape from prison, he ran a multimillion-rand scam event and production company from his cell.

Local media also say he ran a property renovation business with celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana.

The search for Bester continues.

In a statement obtained by Newsflash, the Department of Correctional Services said: “On 3 May 2022, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) received a report from Mangaung Correctional Centre, a public-private partnership (PPP) facility contracted to Bloemfontein Correctional Contracts, operated by G4S, indicating that offender Thabo Bester committed suicide by setting himself alight in his cell at about 3h25. This incident attracted media attention and it was confirmed to various media houses as received from G4S.

“Recorded as an unnatural death, the Standard Operating Procedures dictated that an investigation be launched and the incident be reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS). In line with the Concession Contract, two officials from the DCS were appointed by the Controller (an official of DCS) to conduct an investigation into the incident.

“DCS is now in a position to bring forth findings of its investigation on Thabo Bester, an offender sentenced to life and 75 years imprisonment, running concurrently. It has to be stated that this statement only provides an account from DCS as SAPS is still seized with the matter and conducting its own investigation.

“A post-mortem conducted on the body that burnt beyond recognition in Cell 35 at Mangaung Correctional Centre, revealed that it was an adult male with blunt force trauma to his head. The post-mortem report further revealed that there were no signs of smoke inhalation in the body. Furthermore, it uncovered that that pancreas and the spleen in the body were in the early stages of decomposition. Over and above that, the DNA sequencing with a person identified to be the mother of Bester failed to indicate a common ancestor, or a match.

“Based on the above, a plausible conclusion will mean that the said body referred to above is not of Thabo Bester. This is the basis upon which the DCS investigation report concluded that Bester escaped from lawful custody on 3 May 2022.

“Critical at this stage is for Thabo Bester to be found. DCS is appealing to the public to assist with any information that may lead to the re-arrest of Bester. Such information should be provided to the nearest police station or a correctional services facility.”

The department added: “No stone will be left unturned in getting to the bottom of Thabo Bester’s escape and there will be serious consequences for any party involved.”