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Keywords: "Thabo Bester"  Content: Articles  Page: 1 of 9  Items: 87

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A shameful judicial record

24 April 2026 | ARTICLE

Chart by The Outlier. Text by GroundUp Staff.

Our chart this week shows that the number of late outstanding judgments has risen from 181 in December 2022 to over 300 in July 2025, the latest term for which we have data. This data is taken from r...

Thabo Bester delays trial with six court cases

5 December 2025 | ARTICLE

By Marecia Damons

Thabo Bester appeared in the Free State High Court on Friday. Photo: Becker Semela The long-delayed Thabo Bester trial is scheduled to begin on 20 July 2026. Bester has at least six pending court c...

Judge warns Thabo Bester and co-accused not to delay proceedings

17 June 2025 | ARTICLE

By Daniel Steyn

Thabo Bester escaped from prison in 2022 and was recaptured in 2023 after GroundUp revealed that he had escaped. Illustration Lisa Nelson Judge Mareena Opperman of the Free State High Court issued a ...

Magudumana must stay in prison, SCA rules

16 May 2025 | ARTICLE

By Tania Broughton

Nandipha Magudumana at the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court in August 2023. Archive photo: Becker Semela The Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled that Nandipha Magudumana’s return to South Africa from T...

Magudumana to appeal her extradition on Thursday

5 November 2024 | ARTICLE

By Tania Broughton

Nandipha Magudumana escorted by a police officer at the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court in August 2023. Archive photo: Becker Semela Nandipha Magudamana will argue in the Supreme Court of Appeal thi...

Parliament debates report on Thabo Bester’s prison escape

29 October 2024 | ARTICLE

By Marecia Damons

Parliament’s portfolio committee for Correctional Services met on Tuesday to discuss how to deal with previous inquiries into Thabo Bester’s prison escape. Archive photo: Ashraf Hendricks The portfo...

Police minister confirms Thabo Bester was detained and then released while he was on the run

24 October 2024 | ARTICLE

By Daniel Steyn

Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester showed police officers a fraudulent ID after being apprehended for speeding. Police released him with a notice to appear in court. Archive photo: Becker Sem...

Public Protector blames Correctional Services for prolonging Thabo Bester escape

30 September 2024 | ARTICLE

By Marecia Damons and Daniel Steyn

Thabo Bester faked his death in order to escape from prison and got away with it. Illustration: Lisa Nelson The Public Protector has found there was “undue delay” in the Department of Correctional S...

The rights of prisoners must be protected, even if we dislike them

19 September 2024 | ARTICLE

By GroundUp Editors

The Constitution protects everyone’s rights, even prisoners. Illustration: Lisa Nelson South Africa is a violent country with a violent history. But in 1994 we reached an accord that holds the countr...

Thabo Bester and hundreds of other prisoners kept in unlawful conditions, says inspectorate

18 September 2024 | ARTICLE

By Daniel Steyn

A Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services report says hundreds of prisoners are held in solitary confinement and this is a form of torture. Illustration: Lisa Nelson Hundreds of prisoners at...