Convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester will be in the Pretoria High Court, where he filed an application demanding access to his laptop.

PREPARING FOR TRIAL

Bester said he needed his laptop so that he could prepare for his trial set for February 2025 alongside his co-accused in the matter. He claims his belongings were forcefully and unfairly seized when he was re-arrested in Tanzania. Apart from his murder and rape conviction, Bester is currently facing charges of escaping from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein in May 2022. He fled to Tanzania with his girlfriend, Dr. Nandipha Magudumana. The lovebirds were arrested and deported to South Africa. 

SELF REPRESENTATION

Following concerns about state secret oaths, Bester has chosen to represent himself. His request comes as he outlines several grievances regarding the handling of his original trial and ongoing legal matters. Bester claimed that intelligence around his case has been compromised, hence the decision to represent himself. "I was never given a fair trial. I was coerced into pleading guilty, and for years, crucial transcripts have been missing, denying me the justice I deserve. On top of that, I am bound by an oath of secrecy to the State Security Agency and the Office of the Presidency, where intelligence has been manipulated to further silence me," he said.