JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Correctional Services refuses to make any conclusions on the circumstances surrounding the death of Facebook rapist, Thabo Bester.
In May last year, the department released a statement saying Bester had burnt to death in his cell at the Mangaung private prison.
However, a man with a striking resemblance to Bester has reportedly been spotted in Johannesburg.
Spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo says at this stage, the department stands by its initial statement.
"As the department we still stand by the statement that we issued on 3 May 2022.
"Until such time that new information is brought to us, until such time that the investigating team is done with it's report and is presented to us, and then if there are findings telling us something on the contrary, we've committed ourselves that we will then make the report public," Nxumalo said.
"I think we owe it to the South Africans, especially even the victims of crime, and this issue has become a matter of public interest.
"We do understand the frustrations of ordinary citizens hence we are pressing upon the investigating team to say you have to complete this investigation, but we would not want to apply undue pressure to a point where they are the unable to do their work the correct way."