Pearl Thusi Recounts Chilling 2011 Encounter with Thabo Bester in Netflix Documentary Beauty and the Bester
Pearl Thusi has recounted a chilling encounter with convicted criminal Thabo Bester in 2011 in the new Netflix documentary Beauty and the Bester, detailing how a professional meeting turned into a terrifying ordeal that left her feeling vulnerable and naive.
In the gripping three-part series, which premiered on Netflix on 12 September 2025, the actress and media personality opens up about her brush with the notorious “Facebook rapist” in episode one. Thusi, known for her roles in Queen Sono and her vibrant social media presence, shares how Bester lured her with a fake job offer, leading to a knife-wielding confrontation that could have ended tragically. The documentary, directed by South African filmmaker Mandla N, delves into Bester’s manipulative world, featuring exclusive interviews that expose his web of deception and the lives he upended.
Pearl Thusi’s Harrowing Story: From Facebook Message to Knife Threat
Thusi’s account begins innocently enough. In June 2011, at the height of Facebook’s popularity in South Africa, Bester messaged her offering a television hosting gig with a tempting salary. “I don’t know what specifically drew him to me,” Thusi admits in the series, setting the stage for her story. As a rising star eager for opportunities, she agreed to meet him in Johannesburg, believing it was a legitimate chance to advance her career.
The meeting quickly soured. After getting into a car with Bester, Thusi noticed his driving becoming erratic. They drove for about 25 minutes until reaching a dead-end road near Sandton City, a bustling upscale area. “As I turn to look at him, he’s already drawn the knife,” she recalls, her voice steady but emotional in the documentary footage. The blade at her throat marked a moment of sheer terror, where Thusi feared for her life.
Drawing on her faith as a young Christian woman, Thusi shifted the dynamic. “For me, as I a young Christian woman… I really was about to help someone,” she explains. Instead of panicking, she spoke calmly about redemption, encouraging Bester to surrender to God. Remarkably, her words pierced through, leading Bester to break down. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do it. I don’t know what got into me,” he confessed, according to Thusi. She then convinced him to accompany her to her pastor, where they prayed together in a tense but pivotal moment of vulnerability.
The ordeal ended when Thusi spotted a police van nearby and suggested they take Bester into custody. “I’d never felt so stupid,” she reflects, admitting the naivety and vulnerability she felt, especially as a woman navigating the entertainment industry. This encounter, kept private for years, now adds a deeply personal layer to the documentary, highlighting Bester’s predatory tactics long before his infamous prison escape.
Beauty and the Bester: Unpacking Thabo Bester’s Dark World
Beauty and the Bester is a riveting true-crime series that examines the enigmatic relationship between Bester and celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana, whose romance and alleged crimes captivated South Africa. Produced by IdeaCandy and streaming exclusively on Netflix, the documentary traces Bester’s journey from a charming con artist to a convicted rapist and murderer who faked his death to escape prison in 2022.
Bester, dubbed the “Facebook rapist” for luring victims via social media with fake modelling gigs, was sentenced to life in 2012 for rape and murder. His 2022 escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre, aided by Magudumana, involved a burned body stand-in and sparked a nationwide manhunt. The pair were caught in Tanzania in April 2023, facing charges of fraud, corruption, and aiding escape. The series features interviews with victims, investigators, and figures like Thusi, who escaped his clutches, alongside Happy Simelane and Penny Lebyane, who share their own brushes with his manipulation.
The title plays on “Beauty and the Beast”, nodding to Magudumana’s glamorous life and Bester’s monstrous crimes. Despite Bester’s failed court bid to block the release—arguing it was defamatory—the Johannesburg High Court ruled in Netflix’s favour on 9 September 2025, allowing the premiere. Viewers praise its raw insights, with social media buzzing about Thusi’s bravery and the series’ unflinching look at psychological manipulation.
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