Singer and actress Simphiwe “Simz” Ngema responded to allegations on Wednesday morning that she is the female celebrity who visited convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester in prison numerous times.
In the statement that appears to have been deleted, Simz said she went to prison to demand the money that Bester owed her.
“Thabo Bester was working in the entertainment industry and introduced himself as TK Motsepe, and that’s how we made contact.
“He seemed well connected and was able to organise meetings and big events, which I and many other public figures were booked for. Till this day I was never paid for some of the events that I was booked for by the 21st Century.”
Simz also highlighted that she has opened up to investigators about her relationship with Bester. She said she visited the convicted criminal only once in 2018.
“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,” she said.
Prison records
A few days ago, a popular Twitter account @Advo Barry Roux revealed that Thabo’s visitors’ records confirmed that Simz made regular visits to see the convicted criminal.
“According to Thabo Bester’s visitors’ RECORDED list, a female celebrity who used to visit him in prison is former Muvhango actress Simphiwe Ngema. An unknown person named Thomas Gumede visited Thabo more than anyone. Not the actor though. MaMkhize doesn’t appear on the recorded list,” the tweet reads.
Reactions to Simz Ngema’s statement
The actress steadily climbed up the Twitter trends list after issuing the statement as tweeps dragged her and pokied holes in her explanation.
She has since deleted the statement from her social media accounts.
Here are some reactions to her claims in the now-deleted statement:
Dr. Nandipha and co-accused to appear in court
Meanwhile, the disgraced doctor Nandipha Magudumana and her co-accused have applied for bail. She is set to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court with former G4S security supervisor Senohe Matsoara, suspended G4S guard Motenyane John Masukela, Integration technician Teboho James Lipholo and two other suspects today in connection with their alleged involvement in Bester’s escape. The group faces charges of murder, aiding the escape of a prisoner and defeating the ends of justice, among many other charges.
Thabo Bester’s escape
Thabo was re-arrested together with his lover, Magudumana, last month after he escaped from the G4S-run Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein in May 2022.
ALSO READ: Thabo Bester arrest: Did Dr Nandipha Magudumana steal the identity of Dr Pashy?
