'Beauty and the Bester': Love, lies, and a shocking true crime unveiled

The true crime documentary, which Thabo Bester and Nandipha Magudumana attempted to halt through court intervention, has finally aired and has left much for viewers to unpack.

"Beauty and the Bester" was released on Netflix on Friday, September 12.

This was after the Facebook rapist and convicted murderer, as well as his celebrity doctor partner, earlier this week failed to prevent the three-part true-crime documentary from airing.

Turning to the court for an urgent order to prevent the screening, they argued that Netflix should hold the series until their criminal trial has been disposed of.

Through their legal counsel, the couple insisted that the series contains inaccurate, defamatory, and unsubstantiated claims which violate their constitutional rights. 

However, Judge Sulet Potterill struck the case from the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria’s roll on Thursday, September 11, saying that information contained in the documentary, which relates to them, is “firmly in the public domain”.

She added that this information was already set out in judgments in the bail applications and the appeal against the failed bail applications. 

Meanwhile, the saga which played out in the court over "Beauty and the Bester" only added to its intrigue, with #ThaboBester and #NandiphaMagudumana trending on the day of the documentary’s release.

And after bingeing the series, I can say that it does not disappoint. What satisfied me the most as a viewer is that it addressed my biggest question on SA's Bonnie and Clyde debacle: how could a celebrated and successful doctor give it all up for a dangerous convict?

And voice notes, which Bester sent Magudumana from prison, provided context on how he could have potentially smoothed-talked her into walking away from her young children, her husband and her successful cosmetic beauty business.

It was chilling to hear him explain to her that his imprisonment was a result of a smear campaign by disgruntled politicians who he insisted were taking revenge for business deals gone wrong.

“They created a situation where I  woke up and I was in the papers as the ‘Facebook rapist’,” he can be heard telling her in the voice note.

He added, “I first looked and laughed. I have never even been on Facebook, but they created stories, fabricated stories and next thing, it was the biggest story in South Africa.”

Bester’s rage is also highlighted in the documentary through a recorded phone call, which was previously leaked on social media, in which he threatens her life.

“Try me and I will break your face,” he screams at her, while in another, he can be heard saying. 

These conversations paint a picture of their relationship, one that has garnered local and international attention.

Meanwhile, interviews with those close to the couple are also compelling, as Magudumana’s parents, brother, as well as Bester’s mother provide some explosive information.

"Beauty and the Bester" is also enhanced by interviews from law enforcement officials close to the case, journalists who have been avidly covering the matter, as well as archive footage of media reports.

Even celebrities like Pearl Thusi are featured in the documentary. She opens up about how she almost ended up being one of his victims back in 2011 when they met in Johannesburg over what she thought was an interview for a presenting gig.

This was also the case for reality television star Happy Simelane, who said on the documentary: “I could have lost my life, I could have been killed, I could have been kidnapped.”

Other highlights from "Beauty and the Bester" are the riveting interviews Bester did in 2011 with a psychologist after his arrest, in which he confesses his desire for control, fame and money.

If, like me, you are intrigued by Bester and Magudumana, this documentary will have you on the edge of your seat.