Tracking Thabo Bester
On Friday, 15 March 2024, Tracking Thabo Bester racked up the most first-day views of any documentary on Showmax ever, well ahead of the previous record-holder, Rosemary’s Hitlist. The true-crime documentary was also the most-watched title across all genres over the weekend and received rave reviews, with IOL’s Oluthando Keteyi calling it “jawdropping” and Rapport’s Leon van Nierop describing it as “angry, bizarre, brilliant.”
Tracking Thabo Bester is the true-crime documentary South Africa has been asking for, ever since GroundUp first broke the news that the convicted murderer and rapist did not die in Cell 35 after all and was instead shopping at Woolworths in Sandton City.
Thabo Bester was the most searched person in South Africa on Google in 2023, with his co-accused Dr. Nandipha Magudumana just behind in fourth place, as the whole country obsessed over their stormy tale of love, murder, corruption and deception. Daily Maverick named them both ‘SA Villain of the Year.’
With the trial of South Africa’s most famous prison break scheduled to start in June 2024, Tracking Thabo Bester is a timely four-part investigation into Thabo Bester; why he was called the Facebook rapist and in jail originally; how a celebrity doctor fell for a convicted criminal and left her children behind to go on the run with him to Tanzania; and who really died in Cell 35.
Tracking Thabo Bester is produced by multi-award-winners IdeaCandy (Rosemary’s Hitlist, Devilsdorp, Steinheist) and directed by Nikki Comninos (Convict Conman).
No one does Mzansi true crime like us.
More like this

Billy Joel: And So It Goes (2025)
An honest, insightful, and deeply moving look at the life and career of acclaimed musician Billy Joel, covering both his struggles and triumphs.

Surviving Mormonism with Heather Gay S1
Former RHOSLC cast member Heather Gay investigates hidden truths within the Mormon church, exposing cracks in its perfect facade.

Wizkid: Long Live Lagos (2025)
This intimate and uplifting documentary explores Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Wizkid's rise to superstardom as one of the biggest Afrobeats artists.

Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent S1-2
This spin-off of the hit crime drama franchise follows an elite squad investigating corruption and high-level white-collar crime in Greater Toronto.

Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy (2025)
This sensational documentary delves into the rise and fall of Diddy, offering insight into his childhood, his meteoric rise, and his arrest.

High Horse: The Black Cowboy S1
Jordan Peele creates this vibrant, eye-opening three-part pop culture and historical documentary. It confronts and reclaims the Wild West while revealing the untold history of the Black cowboy.

You Were My First Boyfriend (2023)
In this introspective high school reunion movie turned inside out, filmmaker Cecilia Aldarondo relives her tortured adolescence.

Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God S1
This HBO docuseries explores the rise and fall of cult leader Amy Carlson, aka Mother God. As her health declined, followers awaited UFO salvation.
Devilsdorp, now streaming
Convict Conman: Behind bars and beyond
More eye-opening documentaries

Wild Wild Space and 10 more titles to join your space race
We have liftoff! As new HBO documentary Wild Wild Space takes us into low orbit, mission control has 10 more titles ready for space junkies, from Apollo 13 to Interstellar.

Anatomy of Lies: Women who con
Grey’s Anatomy’s most shocking medical case took place behind the scenes. Find out how co-executive producer and writer Elisabeth Finch faked cancer and personal tragedy, and meet five more of the world’s most questionable con women.

A Very Royal Scandal: 5 downfall documentaries and drama series
What do Prince Andrew, King Juan Carlos I, Sean Combs, Alex Jones, and Markus Jooste have in common? In-depth documentaries more shocking than an Oscar-winning movie!
Latest Stories

Fall in love with romantic drama Touch, now on Showmax

Where to watch The Real Housewives franchise online

How to Train Your Dragon: Bringing Hiccup and Astrid to life
What to watch on Showmax in Nigeria in January 2026

7 things to know about indie award-winning movie Dìdi

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’s South African stunts

What to watch on Showmax in Ghana in December 2025

Angel on The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, Jojo and more

The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip cast on first impressions, beefs and more

Princess Jecoco on The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Africa

Novocaine: the US box office hit shot in Cape Town

Evodia on Ultimate Girls Trip Africa and her return to reality TV

From Poverty to Purpose: The Redemption of Emmanuel Adebayor: Why Saving Lives Trumps Scoring Goals

Christall on The Ultimate Girls Trip, Evodia and more

Manchester City vs Liverpool: The Rivalry Reignites

New seasons of your favourite series, now streaming

The best romantic series on Showmax

What to watch on Showmax in Ghana in November 2025

17 medical dramas to stream in an entertainment emergency

10 fun things to watch on World Animation Day

Annie Mthembu opens up about The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Africa

Can LFC rediscover the form that saw them crowned champions?

Conor Bradley on Liverpool's difficult run and the path back
Big mobs, small jobs: 10 crime series to stream on Showmax



