Thabo Bester, one of South Africa's most notorious rapists and murderers, has taken legal action to stop Netflix from airing a documentary about his life. The documentary, titled 'Beauty and the Bester,' delves into his crimes as well as his dramatic escape from a maximum security prison.
Bester's legal team contends that the documentary is defamatory and asserts that the airing would violate his right to a fair trial. According to them, Bester has not been convicted of escaping and that the documentary portrays him as a 'beast' through its title.
This legal battle involves Bester's partner, Dr. Nandipha Magudumana, who is also featured in the documentary and is accused of aiding his escape. The High Court is set to make a ruling approximately 30 minutes before the documentary's global release, scheduled for Friday.
In 2012, Bester was convicted for the rape and murder of his model girlfriend, Nomfundo Tyhulu, and was also found guilty of raping and robbing two other women in 2011. He earned the nickname 'Facebook rapist' due to his use of the social networking platform to lure victims.
In 2022, while serving a life sentence, Bester allegedly escaped from prison following a fire that authorities believed killed him, only to discover later that the body was not his. For a year, he reportedly lived under a false identity in Johannesburg until he was captured in Tanzania in April 2023, alongside Magudumana. They are currently facing multiple charges and have not yet entered a plea.
Bester's lawyer, Advocate Moafrika Wa Maila, argued that the documentary's release would prejudge the case, while Netflix's advocate, Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, pointed out that the series provides a vital platform for the victims who his crimes affected. With public interest high and a history of sexual crimes in South Africa, the outcome of this legal process will be closely watched.
