Thabo Bester Unhappy With Conditions in Prison, South Africans Criticise His Sense of Entitlement

• Thabo Bester continues to fight for better conditions behind bars ahead of his upcoming trial
• The convicted murderer and rapist is currently incarcerated in Pretoria Prison's C-Max section
• South Africans shared their thoughts on Bester's application and his complaints about prison

Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

GAUTENG - Thabo Bester continues to appeal his conditions in prison. The convicted rapist and murderer is unhappy with how he being treated as he awaits his next trial in November 2025.

Bester will go on trial for his infamous prison escape at the end of the year, but has an ongoing court application ahead of that. Bester and his co-accused face charges including fraud, corruption, aiding an escape, violating a corpse, and defeating the ends of justice.

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What does Bester want?

Bester is currently appealing the dismissal of his Section 35 application in the Free State High Court. Bester originally filed the application in 2024, insisting that prison conditions were preventing him from adequately preparing for his upcoming trial.

He wanted up to seven hours of consultation time with his defence and access to a laptop to prepare. Bester is currently incarcerated in the Pretoria prison's C-Max section.

His application was dismissed in February 2025 by Free State Deputy Judge President, Nobulawo Mbhele. Bester is now appealing that decision.

How has the State responded?

During a virtual hearing to deal with the application, State lawyer, Neil Snellenburg, said that Bester was disgruntled because the court made a ruling that he didn't agree with.

He added that nothing in the judgment shows bias that Bester had no prospect of success in another court.

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What you need to know about Thabo Bester's case

• Dr Nandipha Magudumana claimed that Bester forced her to flee South Africa.
• The Bloemfontein Magistrates' Court denied Magudumana bail, stating that she was a flight risk.
• The state dropped its case against former G4S employee Natassja Jansen in October of the same year.
• Documents leaked in February 2024 exposed an array of criminal activities in prison linked to Bester.
• An analyst said that Magudumana was distancing herself from Bester after they appeared in court in June 2024.

How did South Africans react?

Social media users were once again amused and amazed that Bester was acting so entitled.

George Mkhwanazi said:

"All along, he was going out to meet with Nandipha at a nearby hotel, then go back to his cell, work on his laptop, order pizza, and command wardens. It is only now that he feels the real cold cell."

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Gugu Angela stated:

He and his lawyers are claiming they do not "spend enough time together so they are suggesting that he gets a phone or laptop in his cell. As if no one knows what Bester is capable of when given electronics."

Elelwani Raphadana noted:

"Remember, he has never been an inmate. He was having it good before."

Sharlene Beling said:

"He thinks he's the boss."

Prince Dube asked:

"Is this guy in jail or a hotel?"

Mapaseka Tsoaela added:

"You're not sent to prison to be satisfied but to be corrected. That's why it's called correctional services."

Andiswa Nonkonyane asked:

"Is he unhappy? Shem. What did he expect, free wifi?"

Sipho Soko stated:

"This one thinks he's special."

Tsholofelo Sebokolodi added:

"Of course he would. Since prison is starting to feel like prison and not a place he used to command."

State drops charges against accused

Briefly News reported that the state dropped its case against one of the suspects on trial for the escape of Bester.

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Charges against accused 5 in the escape case, John Masukela, were withdrawn on 17 June 2025.

Bester's lawyer also announced that he would not continue with the case as there were no funds to retain his services.

Source: Briefly News