Thabo Bester
Thabo Bester prison escape trial delayed to 2026 amid legal challenges and representation changes, as the convicted rapist and his co-accused appeared in the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein for an update on trial readiness, facing ongoing hurdles from frequent lawyer switches and concurrent court bids.
The highly anticipated trial of Thabo Bester, the convicted murderer and rapist known as the “Facebook rapist,” will not start this year due to a series of delays. Bester, his alleged accomplice Dr Nandipha Magudumana, and their seven co-accused returned to the court in Bloemfontein on Friday for an update on readiness for trial. They are accused of planning and orchestrating Bester’s alleged brazen escape from Mangaung Prison in May 2022, where he was serving a life sentence.   
One of the reasons the Thabo Bester prison escape trial has not kicked off, two and a half years after his re-arrest, is because of his frequent change of legal representatives. On Friday, Bester fired his recent attorneys and appointed his fifth legal team since his arrest in 2023. But it is Nandipha Magudumana’s legal bid in the Constitutional Court, where she is challenging her deportation, that is keeping the trial from getting underway. Prosecutor Amanda Bester said this matter is only likely to begin trial next year. Bester and his co-accused will return to court on the 5th of December for an update on Magudumana’s constitutional court bid and the readiness for trial.   
Thabo Bester, born on 13 June 1986, gained notoriety for his crimes in the early 2010s. He used social media platforms like Facebook to lure women with promises of modelling opportunities or jobs, only to rape and rob them. In 2011, he was convicted of raping two women and robbing them at knifepoint. A year later, in 2012, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape and murder of his girlfriend, model Nomfundo Tyhulu, whom he stabbed to death. His method of targeting victims online earned him the chilling nickname “Facebook rapist.”   
The escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre, a privately run maximum-security prison in Bloemfontein, shocked the nation. In May 2022, a fire broke out in Bester’s cell, and a burned body was discovered, leading authorities to believe Bester had died by suicide. However, investigations later revealed the body belonged to Katlego Bereng, a man whose remains were allegedly smuggled into the prison as part of the elaborate plot. Bester had faked his death with the help of accomplices, including Dr Nandipha Magudumana, a well-known aesthetic doctor and his romantic partner. The pair fled South Africa, living a lavish lifestyle under false identities in places like Johannesburg before crossing borders.   
Bester and Magudumana were arrested in Arusha, Tanzania, in April 2023, about 10km from the Kenyan border, after a tip-off. They were found with multiple passports under fake names and undeclared cash. Their deportation back to South Africa sparked legal battles, with Magudumana claiming it was an unlawful abduction disguised as deportation, violating her rights. This forms the basis of her ongoing Constitutional Court challenge, which argues that her arrest and return were unconstitutional and that she should be released or the process declared invalid.   
The co-accused in the escape trial include Magudumana’s father, Zolile Sekeleni, who allegedly helped dispose of the body used in the fake death; former G4S prison employees Senohe Matsoara, Tebogo Lipholo, Tieho Makhotsa, and Joel Makhetha, accused of aiding the escape through corruption and negligence; and Zimbabwean national Zanda Moyo, involved in logistics. Another former G4S employee, Buti Reynold John Masukela, had charges against him withdrawn in June 2025. The group faces charges including fraud, corruption, arson, defeating the ends of justice, violation of a dead body, assisting a convicted prisoner to escape, and money laundering.   
Adding to the delays, Bester has switched legal teams multiple times, with his latest change on 19 September 2025. Advocate Lerato Moela stepped down, and Advocate Moafrika Wa Maila, known for his expertise in criminal law, took over as Bester’s fifth representative since 2023. This frequent turnover has caused confusion in court and slowed preparations. Meanwhile, Magudumana’s lawyers have reported no progress on her ConCourt application, prompting prosecutors to plan a letter to the apex court urging a swift resolution to allow the main trial to proceed.   
Concurrent matters have further complicated the case. In a separate bid, Bester and Magudumana tried to block the release of the Netflix documentary “Beauty and the Bester,” a three-part series detailing the escape, their life on the run, and arrest. They argued it was defamatory, prejudiced their fair trial rights, and violated their dignity by portraying Bester as an “inhuman beast” and presuming guilt. The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria dismissed their urgent application on 12 September 2025, just before the global premiere, ruling that it served public interest and relied on public information, balancing freedom of expression against their concerns.   
During the recent court appearance, tensions were evident. Magudumana, dressed elegantly, embraced her father in the dock but seemed strained with Bester, though they were seen chatting. Zolile Sekeleni also appointed a new lawyer, adding to the representation shifts. The state emphasised the need to resolve Magudumana’s bid quickly, as it directly impacts the escape trial’s start, now eyed for early 2026.  
The escape highlighted deep issues in South Africa’s prison system, including corruption at Mangaung, run by G4S. Investigations revealed how Bester, while incarcerated, ran businesses and enjoyed privileges, pointing to official negligence. The case has sparked public outrage and calls for accountability, with the documentary amplifying global interest in this tale of deception and evasion.   
🔴 Central News Weekly Edition | Issue 115 🔴 Download the Latest Print and E-Edition of Central News | Headline: Ngwathe Municipality Refuses to Back Down, Heads to Supreme Court of Appeal
Download Here:
Direct PDF File Here:
https://centralnews.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Central-News-Issue-115-1.pdf
Read all our publications on magzter:
https://www.magzter.com/ZA/Central-News-Pty-Ltd/Central-News/Newspaper/All-Issues
Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content, Podcasts , Radio / Social Media Simulcast, Video Production , Live Streaming Services, Press Conferences, and Paid Interviews (Video/Audio) etc.
We guarantee exceptional exposure, reach, and engagement, with an excellent return on investment.
Advertisement:
To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za
For Business Related:
business@centralnews.co.za
Newsroom:
Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za
General Info:
info@centralnews.co.za
Office Administrator:
admin@centralnews.co.za
Whatsapp / Call: 081 495 5487
Website: https://www.centralnews.co.za
Social Media Platforms (@centralnewsza) : Linkedin, Facebook, Tiktok, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube