South African actress and media personality Pearl Thusi has revealed a frightening encounter she once had with convicted criminal Thabo Bester. Her account features in the new Netflix documentary Beauty and the Bester, which was released this week.

Thusi said the incident took place in 2011, after Bester approached her through Facebook with what appeared to be a professional opportunity. According to her, he offered a television hosting job that came with a lucrative salary. At the time, the message seemed genuine.

Believing it was a career opportunity, Thusi agreed to meet Bester in Johannesburg. However, she told the documentary that the meeting quickly turned into a terrifying experience. She recalled getting into a car with him, only to notice after 25 minutes that they were driving toward a dead end near Sandton City.

“As I turn to look at him, he’s already drawn the knife,” she said, describing the moment she realized she was in danger.

Thusi said her Christian faith influenced how she handled the situation. “For me, as a young Christian woman… I really was about to help someone,” she explained. Instead of panicking, she tried to reason with Bester and encouraged him to turn to God.

In what she described as a tense turning point, Bester broke down and confessed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do it. I don’t know what got into me,” she quoted him as saying. Thusi then took him to her pastor, where they prayed together before she left.

Her involvement ended when she later spotted a police van. She suggested to her pastor that Bester should be handed over to the authorities. “I’d never felt so stupid,” Thusi admitted, reflecting on how vulnerable she felt during the incident.

The Netflix series explores Bester’s history of manipulation and deception, featuring interviews with several people who came into contact with him. Thusi’s testimony provides a personal and emotional perspective on the impact of his actions.

Beauty and the Bester is currently available for streaming on Netflix.

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