Katlego Bereng's mother dismisses Thabo Bester's court rant as 'nonsense'

JOHANNESBURG - The mother of the man whose body was allegedly used as a decoy in the Thabo Bester prison break has dismissed the convicted rapist and murderer's emotional outcry as nonsense.

Katlego Bereng's body was allegedly burned in Bester’s cell when he fled from the Mangaung prison over two years ago.

Bester, his accomplice, disgraced doctor, Nandipha Magudumana, and seven others, including her father, are being tried for the escape in the Bloemfontein High Court.

READ: Bester begs court to reinstate and apply death penalty on him

"I am not the worst inmate in this country. I don't have the highest counts, I have three counts, but I am the most popular inmate in this country for no reason because of the political carnage and issue that I have in my personal life," said Bester.

Bester had a detailed rant during his court appearance on Wednesday, even referring to notes while explaining what he believed was a violation of his human rights.

But Bereng's mother, Monica Matsie, said that it was all an act.

"Now when we come to court, we must watch him and Nandipha being affectionate. Everything he is saying is nonsense because he misses the soft treatment that he was getting while he was at the Mangaung prison," Matsie said.

As Judge President Cagney Musi allowed Bester to vent with no interruption while he was nodding, he advised him to bring a formal application detailing all his grievances.

The matter has been postponed to next month.