The mother of Katlego Bereng, whose charred body was found in Thabo Bester’s prison cell, says she is still waiting for answers.
In an exclusive interview with the SABC, Monica Matsie revealed the ongoing pain, confusion, and health struggles she has endured since losing her son under mysterious and tragic circumstances.
KATLEGO BERENG’S MOTHER BREAKS HER SILENCE
The mother of Katlego Bereng, whose burnt body was discovered in convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester’s prison cell, is still searching for answers.
Netflix recently released the documentary Beauty and the Bester, which examines Thabo Bester’s crimes and prison escape. Monica reacted emotionally to how her son’s tragic death was portrayed.
She said the state has failed her, leaving her and her grandchildren struggling to cope with a tragedy they never expected.
Monica remains distraught as she tries to understand how her son ended up in a prison cell despite never being arrested. She explained the emotional toll on her family:
“It’s an unbearable pain that will never go away. His children are also grown, and they even know their father was killed. The one who is six years old also attends counselling with a psychologist at her tender age.”
“Is that even life? How can she even concentrate at school?”
CHILDREN STRUGGLING TO COPE
Monica revealed how her grandchildren are affected by the trauma:
“Every time she meets other kids, they refer to her as Bester. Is that fair? My child is now being called Bester.”
“Before she goes to school, she talks to herself and cries when she sees a picture of her father.”
“The child has nightmares and often screams for her father at night.”
FEELING ABANDONED BY THE STATE
Monica says the tragedy has affected her health and well-being:
“I always get admitted to the hospital; last time it was for two weeks. My health is on and off, and the child cannot sleep.”
“The children know how their father was killed because they see it on TV. The state has failed us, and I feel forgotten.”
HEARTBREAK AND ANGUISH
Monica recalled every detail revealed during the bail hearing, saying her emotions show just how deeply heartbroken she still feels.
“When they killed my son, they were not busy with lawyers. They planned all this so that they could go to Tanzania… I would still be looking for my son without knowing his whereabouts… my only child. Now I draw strength from his children.
She added, “What will happen if their mothers take them away? What will I do then? It’s like I’m a woman who has never given birth, or I gave birth to a dog that was burnt. My son was just a dog to them, something that can be easily burned inside prison.
“He was never arrested, didn’t even know a prison cell. At his age, he didn’t know the inside of a cell, even to stand in court. But now they killed him and took him to G4S to burn him. Those people who were at the gate are not found guilty. Someone is even acquitted because there is no evidence, but he was on duty when this happened.”
With the final pretrial hearing into Thabo Bester’s prison escape set for this Friday, the family hopes for answers and accountability.
