Thabo Bester Reportedly Moved Back to Kgosi Mampuru After Long Legal Battle

• Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester has reportedly been moved from Kokstad’s supermax prison back to Kgosi Mampuru II in Pretoria
• The alleged move follows months of legal challenges, with Bester arguing that his placement in Kokstad limited access to his legal team and affected his trial preparation
• Previous court rulings dismissed his bid to be relocated, citing security considerations

SOUTH AFRICA —Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester has allegedly been transferred from the Ebongweni Super Maximum Correctional Centre in Kokstad back to Kgosi Mampuru II prison in Pretoria.

Journalist Sihle Mavuso, who posted the development on his X account. Authorities have yet to officially confirm the reported move.

Bester’s alleged return to Pretoria follows months of legal challenges after he was transferred to the high-security Kokstad facility earlier this year.

Legal battles over prison transfer

Bester was moved from Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre, where he had been held for nearly three years, to the supermax prison in January 2026, in a decision correctional services said was based on security considerations.

Read also

Patriotic Alliance rejects claims linking Gayton McKenzie to drug trade, social media raises doubts

However, Bester’s legal team strongly opposed the transfer, arguing it was unlawful and infringed on his constitutional rights.

His lawyers told the courts that the move made it difficult for him to consult with his legal representatives, who are based in Gauteng, and hampered his ability to prepare for ongoing court proceedings linked to his dramatic 2022 prison escape.

They further argued that the distance between Kokstad and Pretoria created logistical and financial barriers, limiting meaningful consultation and potentially prejudicing his right to a fair trial.

Court dismisses urgent bid

Despite these arguments, the Pretoria High Court earlier this month dismissed Bester’s urgent application to be moved out of the Kokstad supermax facility.

The court found no procedural unfairness in the Department of Correctional Services’ decision and ruled that inmate transfers for security reasons are lawful and do not require prior consultation.

Officials also maintained that Bester could still access his legal team through visits or virtual consultations, and that his placement in a supermax prison was justified given his high-profile escape history.

Read also

Chippa United owner at centre of Covid-19 Tender leak scandal, SIU report shows

Latest articles on Thabo Bester

• Thabo Bester challenged his transfer to eBongweni Super Maximum Correctional Facility in Kokstad over a month ago. His legal team argued that they were not informed of the transfer at the time.
• South Africans reacted with annoyance at Thabo Besters' bid to be transferred back to Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre. Bester returned to the Gauteng High Court on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, asking it to overturn the decision to move him to KZN.
• Thabo Bester asked to appear before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee. Bester’s legal team, who indicated that they were acting on direct instructions from their client, submitted a letter to the Committee, asking that he appear.
• Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee has rejected a last-minute request by convicted murderer Thabo Bester to testify.The MPs described his request as unjustified, lacking detail and coming too late in their process.

Previously, Briefly News reported that Nandipha Magudumana’s father, Zolile Sekeleni, returned to the dock at the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on 8 December 2025. Sekeleni spoke to reporters candidly outside about the case and his belief in his daughter's innocence. Sekeleni further said Thabo Bester was being used by 'powerful people.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News