WATCH | ‘This is not the way I want to proceed’ – Bester begs for death penalty

Thabo Bester

Cape Town – Convicted killer and rapist Thabo Bester pleaded with the Bloemfontein High Court to reinstate the death penalty for him during his pre-trial hearing.

Bester, his partner Nandipha Magudumana, and seven others appeared in court on Wednesday.

The accused face multiple charges, including assisting Bester in faking his death in a fire to escape from the G4S-managed Mangaung Correctional Facility in May 2022. Bester is currently serving a life sentence at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility for two counts of rape and one count of murder.

Bester, arrested in Tanzania last year, expressed grievances over inhumane prison conditions.

He requested the death penalty, abolished in 1995, to be reinstated for him, believing it would free his accomplices.

“I came here with 80 cars, I woke up at 2am, I have been having chains on my feet, my feet are ice, I can barely feel my toes, this is not the way I want to proceed,” said Bester.

He added: “I feel it is unfair for these people that are sitting here, my so called co-accused to be in court when I know very well they have nothing to do with this, when I know very well that they were not present in any of these issues that are here. The people that are protected by the investigating team are clearly known. I have more than enough evidence to prove that this thing is much more than just average people that are working at G4S that just decided to release me. It is highly impossible to do that without political power with other high offices involved in this issue.”

Judge President Cagney Musi dismissed his plea as irrelevant, suggesting a formal application for improved prison conditions instead.

The case was postponed to July 24 to give Bester time to secure new legal representation.

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu

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