Thabo Bester, his lover, Dr. Nandipha Magudumana and seven other accused were back at the Free State High Court for their pre-trial hearing, which was postponed to next year. A week ago, the matter was postponed for some of the accused to acquire the services of a new legal representative. 

TRIAL SET FOR FEBRUARY 2025

The judge presiding over the matter, Cagney Musi, questioned all defence counsels on their state of readiness for the trial and they confirmed that they were prepared except for Bester's legal team. The state prosecutor, Amanda Bester, who has no relation to the convicted murderer and rapist, told the court that the trial dates must be set for an entire term. "There is an agreement that the trial will begin on the 10th of February 2025 until the end of the term, and we will utilise the third term as well," said the state.

SOLITARY CONFINEMENT CLAIMS

Bester's defence, Lerato Moela, addressed the court on their application regarding jurisdiction as Bester asked the Bloemfontein High Court to relax his incarceration conditions. Bester filed a legal bid challenging his detention at the Kgosi Mampuru C-Max prison. In response, Judge Musi said: "The matter is not ready for hearing because a reply has not been filed yet." In the press statement released yesterday, claims of Bester been subjected to severe violations of his constitutional rights were made. "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," the statement read. The statement continued to say Bester is deprived of human contact, which may lead him to anxiety, depression, and hallucinations.

ANOTHER CHRISTMAS BEHIND BARS FOR MAGUDUMANA

With the trial set for next year, Magudumana will spend another Christmas behind bars and without her two children. The qualified medical doctor who holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Biomedical Sciences and a Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) and a Bachelor of Medicine has on a number of occasions attempted to get released and failed. A year ago, she brought an urgent application challenging her arrest in Tanzania, accusing the law enforcement of abducting her from the east African country. Her application was dismissed with costs. In September 2023, she applied for bail, claiming she was threatened, forced, and pressurised to flee the country by Bester. Her bail application was denied by both the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court and the Free State High Court.