Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester has suffered another legal setback after the Pretoria High Court rejected his latest attempt to be moved from the eBongweni Super Maximum Prison in Kokstad.
Legal Team Cites Logistical Challenges
Bester’s lawyers argued that his current placement is unjustified, expensive, and hinders his right to a fair trial. They said preparing for his upcoming trial is made difficult by the prison’s location, citing high travel costs, limited consultation opportunities, and general claims that the transfer conditions are “unfair and unreasonable.”
Court Rules Security Concerns Take Precedence
Judge Holland-Mutter dismissed these arguments, stating that Bester’s rights are not absolute. The ruling clarified that the Department of Correctional Services is not required to provide detailed explanations for a prison transfer when the decision is based on security concerns.
The judge also criticised Bester’s legal team for procedural errors, noting that they failed to file the proper notice of motion for their urgent application. “There was no urgency in the matter,” the judge added, and ordered that each party pay its own legal costs.
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