By: Natasha Archary

Convicted rapist and murderer, Thabo Bester has launched a legal challenge against “inhumane detention conditions” at Kgosi Mampuru C-Max prison.
Bester who escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Facility in the Free State in May 2022, has on several occasions brought up being treated with the utmost disdain, disrespect and unfairness and being forced to show up in court without his luxury branded clothing.
On 24 July, Bester who hired his 6th new lawyer, Lerato Moela, bemoaned the poor prison conditions and his right for his legal representative to have access to him once again.
In a media statement issued by Immaculate Business Solutions, Bester’s legal challenge against his treatment was stressed and he called for an immediate end to such conditions.
“Section 35 of the South African Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights that deals extensively with the rights of arrested, detained and accused of a crime must be treated with fairness, respect for their rights, and in accordance with due process of law.
This has not been the case for the accused.
We can confirm that the accused, currently, is placed in solitary confinement for 23-hours per day, in a room with a small window. Placing a detainee in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day has profound and detrimental impacts on their mental health and well-being.This form of isolation can lead to severe psychological effects, including anxiety, depression, hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts.
The lack of human contact and sensory stimulation disrupts normal cognitive functions, impairing decision-making and emotional regulation. The absence of social interaction and environmental variety has been proven to diminish coping mechanisms and increase the risk of long-term psychological damage, making solitary confinement a particularly cruel and inhumane practice.
The degrading conditions of solitary confinement violate the right to human dignity as guaranteed by the Constitution.”
In an impassioned plea, Bester said he is fighting for his right to a fair trial anf the basic human dignity that every detainee is entitled to.
He claims the current conditions he is subjected to is stripping him of his dignity and prevents him from defending himself adequately.
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