| Beauty and the Bester | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Genre | |
| Based on | Thabo Bester's escape from theMangaung Prison |
| Directed by | Anthony Molyneaux |
| Music by |
|
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 3 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Production location | South Africa |
| Cinematography | Shaun Harley Lee |
| Editor | Ruane Van Rooyen |
| Camera setup | Single |
| Running time | 40–49 minutes |
| Production company | Storyscope |
| Original release | |
| Network | Netflix |
| Release | 12 September 2025 (2025-09-12) |
Beauty and the Bester is a 2025 three-parttrue crimedocumentary series that explores the story of convicted South African murderer and rapistThabo Bester, who faked his death and escaped from prison in 2022, and his relationship with thecelebrity doctorNandipha Magudumana, who allegedly became involved in the escape. It was produced by Storyscope, and released onNetflix on 12 September 2025.
The docu-series delves into themes of crime, deception, prison breaks, and the ties between Magudumana and Bester, drawing comparisons to stories likeBonnie and Clyde. It received mixed reviews from critics and media outlets, who mostly praised its authenticity.Beauty and the Bester is second documentary on the subject, followingShowmax'sTracking Thabo Bester, which was released in 2024. Magudumana is currently incarcerated at the Bizzah Makhate Correctional Centre, a women-only prison, inKroonstad,Free State. Bester is held inC-Max, amaximum-security division atKgosi Mampuru prison inPretoria.
Fromexecutive producers Neil Brandt, Laura Colucci, and Thandi Davids,Beauty and the Bester is a three-episode true crime documentary released onNetflix on 12 September 2025, and presented by the production company Storyscope.[1] It explores the prison escape of South African convicted murderer and rapistThabo Bester.[2] Directed by Anthony Molyneaux,[3] it delves into the story of Bester, and his connection with thecelebrity doctorNandipha Magudumana, who is alleged to have assisted in his escape.[4] Siyabonga Sithole, Sean Ou Tim, and Fezile Thela composed thescore for the documentary.[3]
The documentary employs anonlinear narrative structure, featuring talking-head interviews with journalists, a judge, family members, friends, coworkers, and survivors. It combines investigative journalism, raw interviews, andarchival footage. However, some reviews suggest that the timeline can feel cluttered and might benefit from a morelinear approach.[5]
Thabo Bester, born on 13 June 1986 atChris Hani Baragwanath Hospital inSoweto, 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]
Nandipha Magudumana (née Sekeleni), born 15 September 1989 inBizana,Eastern Cape,[7][8] and raised inPort Edward, KwaZulu-Natal,[9] graduated withmedical degrees from theUniversity of the Witwatersrand in 2013.[8][10][9] She worked at Edenvale and Far East Rand Hospitals, specializing inanesthesiology,dermatology, andplastic surgery.[8] In 2017, she founded Optimum Medical Aesthetics Solutions inSandton,Gauteng.[10] Married to Mkhuseli Magudumana in 2013, with two children,[11] they remain legally married despite separation.[7] Hermedical license expired in 2021, and in 2023, theDemocratic Alliance requested its revocation due to unpaid fees.[12][13]
Magudumana claimed she first met Bester at the University of Witswatersrand in 2006, where he allegedly studiedtheology. However, according to theDepartment of Home Affairs, Bester only has agrade 7 education.[14] According toGroundUp, Magudumana began visiting Bester in prison in 2017 while he was serving three concurrentlife 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 paidlobola for her in 2020.[15] The pair co-founded Arum Properties, aconstruction 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 ofrands for renovations and construction projects of which they never delivered.[16]
In May 2022, Bester allegedly faked his death and escaped fromMangaung Prison, a private facility operated byG4S.[2][17] On 7 April 2023,[7] Magudumana was arrested inArusha, Tanzania, alongside Bester,[18] andextradited to South Africa six days later.[7][18] Their car journey from South Africa to Tanzania, echoingBonnie 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, inKroonstad,Free State.[19] Bester is held inC-Max, amaximum-security division atKgosi Mampuru prison inPretoria.[20]
To promoteBeauty 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 aninjunction in thePretoria High Court on 11 September 2025 to permanently block Netflix from releasing and promotingBeauty and the Bester without Bester's consent. Their lawyers argued that the documentary contained defamatory content.[22]
On behalf of Netflix, AdvocateTembeka 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]
Beauty and the Bester received mixed reviews from critics and media outlets, which mostly praised its authenticity.[25]
Roland Simpi Motaung of theMail & Guardian said, "it's nothing new under the sun", as he was unimpressed by the new voice notes and interviews from survivors and former co-workers of Magudumana. He added that everything had already been covered in theShowmax documentaryTracking Thabo Bester, which had the most first-day views of any documentary on Showmax.[3] Writing forEntertainment 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 ofElle 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 ofBBC 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]
Adapted from the Netflix broadcast.[1]
| No. | Title | Directed by | Teleplay by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "A Monster is Dead" | Anthony Molyneaux | Unknown | 12 September 2025 (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. | |||||
| 2 | "Ride or Die" | Anthony Molyneaux | Unknown | 12 September 2025 (2025-09-12) | |
| 3 | "Everything to Lose" | Anthony Molyneaux | Unknown | 12 September 2025 (2025-09-12) | |
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)Nandipha was born in the Eastern Cape village of Bizana and brought up in Port Edward, KwaZulu-Natal, where she worked hard to achieve her goal.