Keypoints:
- Thabo Bester challenges Netflix film in court
- Defence says documentary violates fair trial rights
- Beauty and the Bester set for September 12
CONVICTED rapist and murderer Thabo Bester has filed a legal application to halt the release of a Netflix documentary detailing his relationship with a celebrity doctor and his dramatic 2022 prison break.
The production, titled Beauty and the Bester, is scheduled to stream on 12 September, with a trailer already posted on YouTube. The film explores how Bester, infamously dubbed South Africa’s ‘Facebook Rapist’, lured women online and later staged an audacious escape by faking his death in a cell fire.
Life sentence and escape charges
Bester was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012 after being convicted of raping at least two women he targeted through social media and of murdering another. His notoriety grew after it emerged in May 2022 that he had evaded incarceration by orchestrating a death hoax inside a privately-run prison in Bloemfontein.
Authorities rearrested him in Tanzania in 2023 alongside Dr Nandipha Magudumana, a well-known celebrity physician accused of helping him flee. Both now face additional charges linked to the escape.
Defence raises fair trial concerns
According to reports in South African media, Bester’s lawyers have petitioned the Pretoria High Court to block Netflix from releasing the film until the court rules on whether its contents violate his rights.
They argue that the documentary undermines his constitutional guarantee to be presumed innocent until proven guilty on the new charges stemming from his escape. The defence team also claims the film makes ‘serious, unfounded and defamatory submissions’ against their client, adding that its release could prejudice ongoing proceedings.
Streaming giant stays silent
Netflix has yet to issue a formal response to the legal challenge. The company, which is known for commissioning true-crime series across global markets, continues to promote the documentary online.
South African viewers have reacted strongly to the trailer, with many expressing interest in the story of how one of the country’s most notorious criminals allegedly manipulated personal relationships, exploited systemic failings and exposed vulnerabilities within the prison service.
High-profile case continues
The case against Bester and Magudumana remains ongoing, with multiple counts before the courts. His attempt to block Beauty and the Bester adds another layer of legal drama to what has already been one of South Africa’s most sensational criminal sagas.
The Pretoria High Court is expected to consider his application before the scheduled release date, though it remains unclear whether Netflix will delay streaming in response.
