Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester has approached the Johannesburg High Court to challenge his transfer from Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Facility in Pretoria to eBongweni Super Maximum Correctional Facility in Kokstad, KwaZulu Natal.
In his court application, Bester is seeking an order declaring the transfer unlawful, invalid and unconstitutional. He argues that the decision to move him was procedurally flawed and should be set aside.
Bester is the second high profile accused to be transferred from Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Facility to the Kokstad super maximum prison in recent weeks. His application follows a similar challenge raised by accused tender fraudster Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
During Matlala’s first appearance in the Johannesburg High Court last week, his legal team argued that his transfer to eBongweni was hampering their ability to adequately prepare his defence, citing logistical and access related difficulties.
According to the urgent application, Bester is seeking an immediate transfer back to Gauteng, although not necessarily to Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Facility. He has also asked the court to interdict the Department of Correctional Services from transferring him back to the Kokstad facility for the duration of his criminal proceedings.
The matter is scheduled to be heard in court next Tuesday.
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