By: Natasha Archary

The pre-trial for Thabo Bester’s case which has been riddled with delays over legal representation and prison conditions has been postponed yet again to Wednesday, 31 July.
Bester, his alleged lover and accomplice Dr Nandipha Magudumana and 7 other co-accused were back at the Free State High Court on Wednesday, 24 July.
However, Judge President Cagney Musi halted proceedings to allow two of the accused time to apply for legal aid. This after legal representation for accused No.3 and 6, Senohe Matsoara and Tieho Makhotsa respectively, withdrew owing to non-payment.
Meanwhile, Bester who hired his 6th new lawyer, Lerato Moela is still bemoaning poor prison conditions and his right for his legal representative to have access to him.
In June, Bester begged for the death sentence in an emotional rant, where he claimed he was being treated with the utmost disdain, disrespect and unfairness, being forced to show up in court without his luxury branded clothing.
Bester, Dr Nandipha and seven others, including the doctor’s father Zolile Cornelius Sekeleni are facing a slew of charges including aiding and abetting the convict from escaping from the Mangaung Correctional Center in May 2022.
Dr Nandipha, who was arrested with Bester in Tanzania in April 2023 after fleeing the country, faces charges including tampering with dead bodies and assisting a convicted rapist and murderer from escaping lawful custody.
She claimed she was abducted/kidnapped by South African officials from Tanzania.
Bester escaped from the privately run Free State Correctional Center by faking his death in a fire that was set in his prison cell.
The body that was found in the Facebook rapist and murderer’s cell was that of 31-year old Katlego Bereng.
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