Simphiwe Ngema has publicly acknowledged that she went to visit Thabo Bester in prison for ‘Answers’
Actress Simphiwe “Simz” Ngema has publicly addressed rumours that she was the celebrity who visited “Facebook rapist” and murderer Thabo Bester in Mangaung Correctional Centre. In a post on her Instagram account, she acknowledged her “affiliation with Thabo Bester” and stated that she has been cooperating with authorities.
Simz confirmed that she did visit Thabo in prison but clarified that the visit took place five years ago and that she had no involvement in recent events or in aiding his escape from prison. She explained that she had met Thabo when he introduced himself as TK Motsepe and that they had conducted a business transaction when he booked her for events through his company, 21st Century.
However, Simz revealed that she was never paid for some of the events she was booked for by 21st Century. In 2018, she went to the prison to demand answers from Thabo, as he owed her money. She emphasized that she has been open about everything with investigators and has nothing to hide.
Simz also stated that she was not a regular visitor to the prison and was not the last person to visit Thabo before his escape. She provided supporting documents showing that she had only visited on one occasion, on April 5th, 2018. In her post, Simz called on the media to stop vilifying Thabo’s victims and using them as a tool for distraction, as they also want answers.
“Till this day I was never paid for some of the events I was booked for by 21st century. In 2018 I went to the prison to demand answers, it was a difficult time in my life and he owed me money.
“I’ve been open about everything to those that have been investigating and I have nothing to hide. I am not the person that went there on a regular basis nor was I the last person to visit before his escape.
“This was five years ago and I have supporting documents that prove I had only visited on one occasion. Dated April 5 2018. The media should stop vilifying his victims and using us as a tool for distraction because we also want answers,” she posted.
Speculations ran high when journalist Karyn Maughan revealed a “well-known” celebrity visited Bester in prison.
In recent developments, after two more arrests were made, police minister Bheki Cele said they were “closer to finding the high-level people” who helped Bester.
“What is clear is [the] people who have been arrested will have to tell us who sent them because they could not have done this on their own,” said Cele.
“We are satisfied the team is doing good work there. We don’t want to push the team. We want them to find their way up to the level where we believe this thing originated. We know it originated with Bester, but he could not have dealt with the small fish. At a certain point, we’ll have to get sharks in the matter.”