Convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester appeared in the Johannesburg High Court on Tuesday, representing himself in a bid to challenge the conditions of his detention.
Dressed in a designer Louis Vuitton shirt and shackled in leg irons, the convicted “Facebook R**pist” argued that his constitutional rights had been violated.
Bester, serving a life sentence for the 2012 rape and murder of his girlfriend Nomfundo Tyhulu, is challenging aspects of his detention related to his dramatic 2022 escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein.
He argues that the Department of Correctional Services has already labeled and treated him as guilty of escaping custody before his trial on those charges has even begun thereby violating his constitutional rights, including the presumption of innocence.
In court, Bester boldly claimed he did not escape but was “officially released” from the maximum-security prison. He told the judge that any finding of guilt must be proven in a criminal trial, not assumed by prison authorities through his classification as an escapee or his placement in harsh conditions, including solitary confinement and transfer to a supermax facility in Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal.
The urgent application seeks his reclassification as a remand detainee rather than a sentenced prisoner on the escape matter.
Bester, who represented himself for part or all of the proceedings, submitted that his current treatment infringes on his rights and questioned the validity of ongoing charges linked to the breakout, in which he allegedly faked his death in a cell fire, with a body placed in his cell to cover the escape.
The state maintains that Bester remains lawfully incarcerated as a sentenced offender, with the escape charges still pending alongside those against co-accused, including his former partner, Dr. Nandipha Magudumana.
After hearing arguments, the court reserved judgment on Bester’s application, which will be delivered via CaseLines and emailed to the parties.
Bester’s latest court appearance has once again drawn attention for his flamboyant style. Social media buzzed with comments about the expensive Louis Vuitton shirt he revealed by removing his suit jacket during proceedings. The convicted “Facebook R**pist” has a history of appearing in designer wear, even while behind bars.
The full escape trial, involving multiple accused on charges including fraud, arson, corruption, and murder, has faced repeated delays and is provisionally set for later in 2026 in the Free State High Court.
This case continues to captivate South Africa, highlighting issues of prison security, high-profile escapes, and the rights of notorious offenders within the justice system. Judgment on Bester’s latest bid is awaited.