Thabo Bester, one of South Africa's notorious rapists and murderers, has taken legal action against Netflix in an attempt to block the release of a documentary that details his criminal activities, including his alleged faked death and subsequent escape from prison.
His legal representatives argue that the documentary, titled 'Beauty and the Bester', is defamatory. However, Netflix has staunchly defended the release of this three-part investigation. Bester's partner, celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana, who is said to have assisted in his escape, is also involved in the court case aimed at halting the documentary's airing.
The High Court's decision is expected shortly before the scheduled release, which is set for Friday.
Bester was convicted in 2012 for the rape and murder of Nomfundo Tyhulu, his model girlfriend, and had previously been found guilty of raping and robbing two other women. He gained notoriety as the 'Facebook rapist' for using social media to lure his victims.
While serving a life sentence, Bester allegedly escaped from a maximum-security facility in 2022 after a fire that led authorities to mistakenly identify a charred body as his own. He then evaded capture for a year, living under an alias in Johannesburg until he was apprehended alongside Magudumana in Tanzania in April 2023.
Both have been charged with several crimes, including the violation of a corpse and fraud, although they have not yet entered a plea.
Bester’s lawyer has asserted that the documentary undermines his right to a fair trial, claiming that there is no substantial evidence of his escape and calling the documentary a 'kangaroo court'. In contrast, Netflix's legal counsel has highlighted that the series offers a long-denied voice to the victims of Bester, paving the way for their stories to finally be heard.
The ongoing saga surrounding Bester and the potential implications of the documentary resonates deeply in South Africa, where the issue of sexual violence poses a significant challenge to the societal fabric.
