The Pretoria High Court has dismissed the urgent application by convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester due to its lack of urgency. Bester, who pulled a daring prison escape with the help of his married lover, Dr. Nandipha Magudumana, in May 2022, wanted access to a laptop and the internet to prepare for his trial set for February 2025 alongside his co-accused in the matter. 

MOST GUARDED PRISONER

Bester appeared at the Pretoria High Court today, representing himself, frustrated about the restrictions imposed on him. He claimed his belongings were forcefully and unfairly seized when he was re-arrested in Tanzania last year. Bester has accused the court of treating him unfairly, and said that is the reason he chose to defend himself. "If I can't defend myself, no one is going to defend me. I am the monster here, "he said. Bester argued that it's his constitutional right to access the devices and material, which the judge, quickly dismissed. "I request access to resources. This can be a device that can be easily monitored, managed and controlled without any security risk by the respondents because they have two members outside my door 24/7, highly trained. They supervise everything I do," he said.

IT'S STILL ALLEGATIONS

Bester claims the allegations of prison escape and fraud levelled against him are just that, "allegations," and they have not been tested by any court. "It's allegations. At this current stage, I am one inmate with numerous allegations in public." He asserted that he is bound by an oath of secrecy imposed by both the State Security Agency and the Office of the Presidency and was never given a fair trial, referring to his previous murder and rape cases. "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 claimed.

Bester, his co-accused, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, Zolile Sekeleni, Senohe Matsoara, Zanda Moyo, Buti Masukela, Teboho Liphoko, Tieho Makhotsa and Joel Makhetha will be back in court next year for their trial. They are facing 16 charges, including fraud, corruption, assisting an inmate escape, and the violation of dead bodies.