Legal blow for Bester as judge dismisses transfer application, citing security and sloppy legal work

Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester has suffered another legal setback after the Pretoria High Court dismissed his latest attempt to be transferred from the eBongweni Super Maximum Prison in Kokstad.

Bester’s legal team argued that his current placement is unjustified, costly, and impedes his right to a fair trial.

They maintained that they are unable to adequately prepare for his upcoming trial while he remains at the Ebongweni facility, citing several logistical hurdles:

High travel costs for the legal team.

Consultation challenges due to the prison's location and restrictions.

General claims that the transfer was "unfair and unreasonable."

Judge Holland-Mutter rejected these arguments, clarifying that Bester’s rights are not absolute. The judge ruled that the Department of Correctional Services is not required to provide exhaustive details for a transfer when the decision is rooted in security risks.

READ: Thabo Bester fights high-security transfer, citing infringement on trial prep

Furthermore, the judge criticised Bester’s legal team for what he described as "sloppy work," noting that they failed to file the necessary notice of motion for the urgent application.

"There was no urgency in the matter," the judge added, ordering that each party pay their own legal costs.