Nomfundo Tyhulu: How Did She Die? Who Killed Her?

As a documentary series living up to its title, Netflix’s ‘Beauty and the Bester’ delves deep into the complex case of celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana and infamous criminal Thabo Bester. It details everything from the latter’s crimes as the so-called Facebook rapist to how the former allegedly helped him fake his death and escape from prison after they got romantically involved. Therefore, there is a significant focus on the harrowing 2011 murder of fellow South African native Nomfundo Tyhulu too, making people wonder more about precisely what transpired and why.

Nomfundo Tyhulu Was Found Dead at a Bed and Breakfast

Although not much regarding Nomfundo Tyhulu’s background or early years is public knowledge as of writing, we do know she was leading a happy life in Johannesburg in the early 2010s. The 26-year-old was actually employed as a saleswoman at a BMW dealership in Sandton, all the while also trying to make a name for herself as a model, meaning she was embracing every opportunity to come her way. It was during this period, in January 2011, that she first came across Thabo Bester at her official workplace, just for there to be such a spark between them that they started talking.

According to Thabo’s accounts, he and Nomfundo began a long-distance relationship around two months later, and in September, they seemingly decided to take a holiday together. The couple reportedly happily traveled to Cape Town, where they first stayed in a 5-star hotel before moving to the Roman Retreats Bed and Breakfast for an additional two nights. It was there that the aspiring model’s remains were found by the owner on September 21 – she was lying in bed as if she were asleep, but as soon as they lifted the covers, they saw blood. Nomfundo had been stabbed to death.

Nomfundo Tyhulu’s Killer Was Identified As Her Boyfriend Almost Instantaneously

When officials arrived at the scene, they noticed that not only had Nomfundo’s remains been staged, but that her cell phone and her laptop were also missing, with her boyfriend nowhere to be found. The owners subsequently revealed that Thabo Bester was the one who had made the 2-night reservation, but he had left alone earlier in the day after locking his girlfriend inside. As per the aforementioned series, owner Lucy Higgins saw him lock the door from outside at around 7 in the morning, right in front of her as she was going on a walk, driving her to ask why he was doing so.

Thabo reportedly told Lucy not to worry because they had been working all night, so he knew his girlfriend was “very tired” and would be “sleeping all day.” He then allegedly added he would return around lunchtime anyway before asking her husband to drop him off at the City Center Bus Station, only for that to be the last time they ever saw him. Nevertheless, Lucy was still concerned, so she knocked on the door three times throughout the day, only to never get any response. Thus, once the evening rolled around, she knew something was wrong since Thabo had also not returned, driving her to use her keys to step inside. That’s when she found her bed and breakfast to be a mess and Nomfundo’s remains on the bed, so she immediately called the police.

Once investigators heard all this, they immediately secured the scene and started searching for Thabo, quickly realizing that the murder weapon was one of the knives from the kitchen. They were also able to ascertain that the suspect had returned to where he was staying in Durban, and that’s where he was arrested on one count each of rape, murder, and armed robbery. After all, with the evidence recovered, officials believed the couple had gotten into a heated argument about their relationship status, following which he secured the knife. Then, as per records, he tied Nomfundo’s hands behind her back with one of her t-shirts while demanding the password to her devices before stabbing her in the chest until she had passed. He then stole her belongings and fled the city.

Thabo Bester is Currently Serving His Life Term Behind Bars

It was in 2012 when Thabo Bester pleaded guilty to raping and murdering Nomfundo Tyhulu in the early morning hours of September 21, 2011, for which he was handed a life sentence. However, it’s imperative to note that prior to his plea agreement, he was interviewed on record by a psychologist, to whom he also confessed to the murder in detail. He said he had a fight with his girlfriend at around 2 or 3 am, during which he realized “she’s probably gonna wanna leave first thing in the morning… I went downstairs, got a knife. When I got up, when I got back in the room, she was awake and standing. She did not understand what I was doing with the knife.” He then admitted to killing her. He was thus sentenced to the maximum-security Mangaung Correctional Center in Bloemfontein, only to escape upon faking his death in 2022. However, he has since been rearrested and is currently back to serving his life term at the maximum-security Kgosi Mampuru Prison in Pretoria, in Tshwane, South Africa.

Read More: Nandipha Magudumana: Where is Thabo Bester’s Girlfriend Now?

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