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

Alert: Missing Persons Unit S3
Showrunner John Eisendrath and Jamie Foxx are behind this police procedural. After her son goes missing, Nikki Batista joins the Philadelphia Missing Persons Unit, helping find people's loved ones as she searches for her own.

Navajo Police: Class 57 S1
Recruits face grueling training, personal demons, and cultural pride as they join the Navajo Police to protect the people of the reservation.

MobLand S1
Tom Hardy and Pierce Brosnan propel this gripping, gritty crime drama series that follows two powerful families engaged in an intense power struggle.
Big mobs, small jobs: 10 crime series to stream on Showmax
Not everybody can be the Godfather. From MobLand to The Cleaning Lady to Gangs of London, we look at 11 small but essential jobs that take care of the organising behind organised crime.

Dexter's deadly to-do list in Dexter: Resurrection
Dexter’s son Harrison “killed” him in the finale of Dexter: New Blood. But he’s back from the dead and on a mission: tie up loose ends.

Dexter: Resurrection S1
The city that never sleeps has a new guest. Set a few weeks after Dexter: New Blood, Dexter Morgan chases a missing Harrison to New York, where Captain Angel Batista is hot on their trail from Miami.

Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television
Take a journey through TV history, exploring Black representation, from early on-screen appearances to modern creators, revolutionising the industry.

Is HBO’s Task “the best crime thriller of the year”?
Brad Ingelsby talks Task, HBO’s gritty crime thriller with Mark Ruffalo and Thuso Mbedu. New episodes Mondays on Showmax, express from the US.
Devilsdorp, now streaming
Convict Conman: Behind bars and beyond
More eye-opening documentaries

Telemarketers
Two former telemarketers team up to investigate the dark side of American capitalism, uncovering widespread abuse of customer trust.

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

Manchester City vs Liverpool: The Rivalry Reignites

What to watch on Showmax in Nigeria in November 2025

Can LFC rediscover the form that saw them crowned champions?

Conor Bradley on Liverpool's difficult run and the path back

Must-watch trailer: The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa

Creating The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim

Bafana Bafana composed for Durban showdown against Zimbabwe

Arsenal and Liverpool early front-runners ahead of Premier League international break

The Premier League canvas: a Saturday masterpiece painted in blue and red

BBNaija 10/10: Road to finale

The clash of the new number 9s: Gyökeres vs Woltemade

June Squibb wins Best Actress award at age 95 for Thelma

Red vs Blue: Showmax Premier League serves up a blockbuster weekend

Blockbuster Premier League weekend: Red vs Blue

Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr chat about Den of Thieves 2: Pantera

From doubt to dynamo: Micky van de Ven's rise at Tottenham

Mhlongo's bold prediction: Pirates to clinch MTN8 Title for a fourth year running

Glory awaits: From MTN8 Kings to Manchester's Crown, football's biggest stage is on Showmax

Art, money and power: a blueprint for The Brutalist

The best Premier League signings of 2025's summer window

Xtra affordable entertainment: pay for Showmax with your MTN airtime

What to watch on Showmax in Nigeria in September 2025

Alexander Isak a great option for LFC's attack, say former Liverpool striker David Ngog

Kate and Annie take charge in Ten Pound Poms Season 2





