The trial for Thabo Bester, a convicted murderer and rapist, along with his co-accused, is scheduled to commence on 10 February 2025. Facing the reality of never regaining his freedom, Bester has taken various measures to attract attention to himself, including making outbursts during court proceedings this year.

NOT EQUALLY TREATED

In one of his and his co-accused court appearances in June, Bester went on a rant after he was given a chance to address the Free State High Court. During his rant, Bester claimed that there was political interference in his case and that he is not treated like other inmates in the country. He went on to tell the court that he doesn't feel equally treated like any other accused person in the country. "First of all, you have the media that has tarnished and destroyed me without facts and evidence. It's already confirmed that I have a scheme, but no one knows the true facts. It is already confirmed that Thabo Bester is a rapist and a murderer, but there's no evidence," he said.

NOT THE WORST INMATE IN THE COUNTRY

During the same court appearance, Bester told the court that he was not the worst inmate in the country and doesn't have the worst charges. "I have three counts, but I am the most popular inmate in this country for no reason. It's because of the political carnage and issues that I have in my personal capacity that have nothing to do with these legal proceedings. I feel that I'm allowed to address that, and in my last point, I feel that it's unfair for these people that are sitting here as my so-called accused to be in court when I know very well they have nothing to do with this. I know very well that they were not present in any of these issues that are in the indictment," Bester told the court.

DEMANDING HIS LAPTOP TO PREPARE FOR TRIAL

In September, Bester, who is incarcerated at the Kgosi Mampuri Prison, took the Department of Correctional Services to court on an urgent basis, representing himself and demanding his laptop so that he could prepare for his trial set for February 2025. He claimed his belongings were forcefully and unfairly seized when he was re-arrested in Tanzania. The Pretoria High Court struck off the roll the application for Bester to have access to a laptop and the Internet for its lack of urgency.

SOLITARY CONFINEMENT CLAIMS

Bester also claimed in one of his court appearances that he was being kept in solitary confinement. Bester stated that he is finding it difficult to manage being in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day with only one hour to exercise. In response, the department refuted Bester's claims, asserting that he has been afforded opportunities for exercise. Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo stated, "The facility consists solely of single cells, meaning that all inmates do not share accommodations. Therefore, the impression given by Thabo Bester that he is in solitary confinement is, with all due respect, misleading. Thabo Bester is granted an hour of exercise daily, which is the minimum allowed under Section 11 of the Correctional Services Act. This exercise occurs outdoors unless weather conditions prevent it. Furthermore, Bester's claim of being segregated is inaccurate, as the facility is composed entirely of single cells."