Bester begs court to reinstate and apply death penalty on him

JOHANNESBURG - Convicted killer and rapist Thabo Bester has begged the Bloemfontein High Court to reinstate and apply the death penalty on him during his pre-trial hearing.

Bester, his lover, Nandipha Magudumana, and seven others appeared in the Bloemfontein High Court in connection with Bester’s brazen escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre.

Bester and Magudumana were arrested while on the run in Tanzania last year.

On Wednesday, Bester had an emotional rant in court over what he calls the inhumane conditions he has been subjected to.

"I came here with 80 cars, I woke up at 2am, I have been having chains on my feet, my feet are ice, I can barely feel my toes, this is not the way I want to proceed."

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The death penalty was abolished in South Africa in June 1995 but Bester, who fled from custody, wants it to be brought back just for him.

He believes this will set the stage for his accomplices including Magudumana to be set free.

"It tears me apart to see the people in this court, knowing very well that they are suffering for something they know nothing about. I request that if the public and prosecution are so convinced that I am the waste of these people’s lives that the public signs a petition and I be given the death sentence."

Judge President Cagney Musi told bester that his petition was irrelevant and he should rather make a formal application for his conditions in prison to be relaxed.