Thabo Bester

By Boy Stevens – Convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester has once again pushed back his high-profile prison escape trial by announcing a string of new legal battles. During a pre-trial hearing at the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein on Friday, 5 December 2025, Bester told the court he has six pending applications across various courts that must be sorted out first. These include challenges to his deportation from Tanzania, his prison classification, and even demands for access to classified documents and phone records from top government officials. As a result, the main trial—originally set for February 2025—has now been postponed to July 2026, leaving many frustrated about the slow pace of justice in this sensational case.
Bester, who was serving a life sentence for rape and murder before his daring escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre in 2022, appeared alongside his alleged lover and accomplice, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, and five other co-accused. They face charges of fraud, corruption, defeating the ends of justice, and aiding a prison escape. The group is accused of faking Bester’s death by setting a fire in his cell and using the body of Katlego Bereng to stage the scene. Since his dramatic recapture in Tanzania in April 2023, Bester has been a regular in courtrooms, filing applications for everything from laptop access to blocking documentaries about his life.
This latest delay highlights the ongoing chaos in the case, with Bester’s legal moves adding months to the timeline. Prosecutors and the judge expressed concerns about the hold-ups, but agreed to give time for the applications to play out. For victims’ families and the public, it’s another wait in a story that has gripped South Africa with its mix of crime, romance, and high-stakes drama.
Chaotic Court Appearance: Transport Delays and Fresh Complaints
The Friday hearing got off to a rocky start when Dr Nandipha Magudumana appeared alone in court due to a three-hour delay in her transport from Kroonstad Prison. She was ready to leave at 6am, but Correctional Services officials only picked her up at 9am. Her lawyer, Machini Motloung, slammed the mix-up as “totally unacceptable” and demanded a full report, stressing the need for fair treatment. The prosecutor, Amanda Bester (no relation to the accused), explained that the investigating officer forgot to arrange a female official to sign her out, taking full blame for the error.
Once everyone was in court, Bester’s new lawyer, advocate MoAfrika Wa Maila, laid out the six applications holding up the trial. Wa Maila argued that these are crucial for Bester’s defence and must be resolved before the main case can proceed. Judge Opperman warned that endless delays could be unfair to the other accused, saying, “There might be a time when I will have to draw the line, but I will not be unfair … please do all you can for these matters to be expedited.” The court set the next pre-trial date for 18 March 2026, with the full trial now scheduled from 20 July to 18 September 2026—expected to last at least six weeks.
Bester also raised new gripes during the hearing. He complained about missing belongings seized during his arrest in Tanzania, including cash, computers, and mobile phones. The state confirmed a theft docket was opened in Pretoria, but the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) decided not to prosecute. Additionally, he asked for court-ordered special meals during appearances, but the judge ruled this was outside her powers.
Bester’s Six Applications: From Deportation Challenges to Classified Secrets
Bester’s lawyer detailed the six ongoing court battles, each aimed at fixing what he sees as injustices in his treatment and arrest. These applications are spread across high courts in Gauteng and elsewhere, and resolving them could take months. Here’s a breakdown of what he’s fighting for:

Challenge to Detention Conditions: Set for hearing on 22 January 2026 in the North Gauteng High Court. Bester complains about poor communication with his lawyers at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Facility, saying faulty phones make proper consultations impossible. Wa Maila said, “Instead of us being there and writing notes, we have to speak through a phone, and those phones don’t even work properly. We have not yet consulted effectively since we came on record.”
Challenge to Deportation from Tanzania: Bester wants to argue that his deportation was unlawful, which could question the Free State High Court’s jurisdiction over his case. Wa Maila noted, “If the court finds that he was wrongly deported, it will have a direct impact on the jurisdiction of this court.”
Reclassification as Awaiting-Trial Prisoner: In the Johannesburg High Court, Bester seeks to change his status at Kgosi Mampuru prison, where he’s treated like a sentenced inmate despite facing new charges. Wa Maila explained, “We therefore request that these classifications be amended because he is still awaiting trial.”
Access to Classified Documents and Phone Records: Under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), Bester is demanding records from the Presidency, national intelligence, and even Minister Ronald Lamola’s phone logs. He claims these will prove state involvement in flaws in his case and are vital for his defence. Wa Maila stressed, “Without this information, it will be terribly difficult to prepare for the trial.” This builds on a earlier bid for laptop access, which was partly granted for physical resources but denied for electronics.
Unfreezing of Bank Accounts: Bester wants his frozen accounts released to fund his legal fees and stay “financially viable” for the trial.
Laptop Access for Preparation: He continues to push for a laptop to research and prepare his case, arguing it’s essential for a fair trial under Section 35 of the Constitution.
These moves show Bester’s strategy to delay and challenge every step, but prosecutors argue they’re ready to proceed once the side issues are cleared.
The Co-Accused: Magudumana’s Own Battles and Others on Bail
Bester isn’t fighting alone—his co-accused have their own issues adding to the delays. Dr Nandipha Magudumana, a celebrity doctor and Bester’s alleged partner in crime, is challenging her arrest and deportation from Tanzania at the Constitutional Court. She must file papers by 19 December 2025, and the state says the main trial can’t start until this is resolved. Magudumana previously lost at the Supreme Court of Appeal but is pushing for a ruling that her return was unlawful.
The other co-accused include Magudumana’s father, Zolile Sekeleni, her gardener Zanda Moyo (who remains in custody), and several prison guards accused of helping with the escape. Five of them are out on bail, while Bester and Magudumana stay behind bars. The group is charged with helping stage the escape by smuggling in Bereng’s body, setting the fire, and aiding Bester’s life on the run in Johannesburg with fake identities.
Background: Bester’s Daring Escape and Life on the Run
Thabo Bester’s story reads like a thriller. Convicted in 2012 for rape and murder, he was serving life at Mangaung when he allegedly faked his death in May 2022. With help from insiders, a body (later identified as Katlego Bereng) was burned in his cell, and Bester slipped out. He lived lavishly with Magudumana, running scam companies, until their arrest in Arusha, Tanzania, in April 2023 with fake passports.
Since then, Bester has been a courtroom regular, applying for laptop access, trying to stop documentaries like “Tracking Thabo Bester,” and even citing health issues for delays. His tactics have frustrated many, with some calling it a bid to game the system. The case has exposed flaws in prison security and raised questions about corruption in corrections.
What This Means for Justice and Public Trust
The repeated delays have sparked anger from victims’ families and the public, who want swift justice for Bereng’s death and the escape plot. Prosecutors say they’re ready, but Bester’s applications keep pushing things back. As South Africa grapples with high crime rates, cases like this test the system’s strength.

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Thabo Bester

Thabo Bester’s Prison Escape Trial Delayed to July 2026 as He Files Six New Court Applications

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