The Facebook rapist and murderer, Thabo Bester and his girlfriend, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, and six co-accused will appear in the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein on Wednesday, 5 June, in a much-anticipated pre-trail.

 

The court delayed a pre-trail in February due to the withdrawal of Bester’s legal representatives.

Bester has since complained about maltreatment he received at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional facility and that he couldn’t arrange with his lawyers because he didn’t have access to a phone.

Top lawyers such as Advocate Dali Mpofu and Advocate Zandile Mshololo, who represent one of the accused in Senzo Mayiwa trial, have been previously mentioned but that didn’t materialise for Bester.

Bester, Magudumana, and the other six co-accused, including former G4S employees, are facing charges of assisting a prisoner to escape from lawful custody, defeating the ends of justice, fraud, and arson, among others.

On the previous appearance, Bester requested the High Court to facilitate the best way to find him food whenever he is supposed to be in court.

Bester told the court he didn’t eat breakfast at the Grootvlei Maximum Prison, where he was kept for the pre-trial, because the food served did not align with his diet due to his sugar diabetes sickness.

During his first appearance, after his apprehension in Tanzania, Bester requested the Bloemfontein High Court to rule that he should receive food through his legal representative and not at the prison. Addressing the High Court during the delayed pre-trial, Bester slammed the Department of Correctional Services.

The family of Katleho Bereng, whose body was found in Bester’s cell, has been requesting justice to be served and for the conclusion of the case so it can give the family a chance to heal.