The much-awaited trial of convicted murderer and serial rapist Thabo Bester, his lover Dr Nanthipha Magudumana and eight other co-accused has been postponed to July. Initially scheduled to start today at the Bloemfontein High Court, the trial was postponed due to outstanding matters.

OUTSTANDING MATTERS

According to National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson,Mojalefa Senokoatsane, the first matter is that of Magudumana's judgment, in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA). In November, SCA heard an application by Magudumana to have her extradition to South Africa declared illegal. In their arguments, her legal team said her arrest in Arusha, Tanzania, in April 2023 with Bester and her return to South Africa was unlawful and invalid. Magudumana wants the court to have her released from prison immediately. The judgment in the matter was reserved, and NPA said at the time that they were hoping that the application for appeal would be dismissed. The second matter is that of Bester, who took Correctional Services to the Pretoria High Court in September last year, where he filed an application demanding access to his laptop. He told the court he needed the laptop to prepare for his trial. Senokoatsane said the state still needs to argue on Bester's application.

CLAIMING UNFAIR TREATMENT 

Last year, during one of his court appearances, Bester went on a rant at the Free State High Court and claimed that there was political interference in his case and that he is not treated like other inmates in the country. He also said that he doesn't feel equally treated like any other accused person in the country. He also claimed that he was ill-treated at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre. Bester, Magudumana, her father, and some of the former Mangaung Prison officials are facing multiple charges related to the 2022 prison escape of the convicted rapist. Senokotsoane said the state is ready to proceed with the trial but that the defence said in court today that it will only be ready after the two judgment.