Cape Town – Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola has explained why Thabo Bester, a convicted prisoner, has been appearing in court wearing civilian clothes.
Bester has been virtually attending court hearings wearing designer clothes worth thousands of rands, and this has raised questions from parliamentarians.
On Tuesday he appeared at the Bloemfontein magistrate’s court wearing what appeared to be a pricey Louis Vuitton sweater.
If authentic, the sweater, according to an online fashion site, costs $1 655 (R30 000).
[WATCH] #ThaboBester appears wearing a luxury fashion brand from the Kgosi Mampuru prison in Tshwane. @LindA_MniSii pic.twitter.com/NxB2rdTpM1
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) June 20, 2023
According to Times Live, this was the second time Bester had been seen wearing an expensive clothing item for a virtual court appearance.
In May, he appeared in a black Burberry hoodie valued at R19 000, the report said.
Thabo Bester appearing virtually this morning at Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court while wearing Burberry. #DrNandipha #ThaboBester pic.twitter.com/yqyDrgz0Wd
— Man’s NOT Barry Roux (@AdvoBarryRoux) May 16, 2023
According to IOL, Lamola clarified that the standard procedure allowed sentenced offenders to wear their own private clothing if it was clean and neat.
“The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) which governs internal and external security prescribes security measures for court appearances by a sentenced offender on further charges.
“The SOP outlines that a sentenced offender appearing in court on further charges must be dressed in their own private clothing which is clean and neat. In the event an inmate does not have suitable private clothes they are to be provided with release clothes,” the report quoted Lamola as saying.
Bester and his partner Dr Nandipha Magudumana are currently on trial in the Bloemfontein court for various charges related to Bester’s escape from prison.
Former employees of the G4S security firm are also facing charges, and law enforcement agencies expect more arrests to follow.
Bester was serving a life sentence for murder and rape when he escaped from prison and was later apprehended in Tanzania.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
