Court okays Netflix airing of South African rapist’s documentary
JERRY
FIRE
BBC
APRIL
WOULD
A South African court has okayed Netflix‘s release of the documentary on a convicted Facebook rapist, Thabo Bester. The three-part true-crime documentary series, titled Beauty and the Bester, is set to air today across South Africa.
The documentary is a much-anticipated show that will cover Bester’s life and how his accomplice, Nandipha Magudamana, helped him escape prison in 2022. Though the duo are currently in custody, Netflix is attempting to make their events public in the most creative way.
In his move to halt the airing, Bester and his accomplice had previously filed a suit with claims that the Netflix documentary is defamatory. According to their argument, per BBC reports, the documentary might put them at a disadvantage and diminish their right to a fair hearing in November’s trial.
Bester and Magudamana have been facing a series of charges at the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein relating to Bester’s May 2022 escape from prison. Following his escape, Bester was rearrested in Tanzania in 2023.
In its ruling on Friday morning, the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria said Bester’s application lacked merit and was unreasonable. Judge Sulet Potterill added that the urgent suit to suppress the anticipated Netflix documentary is an attempt to put the court under pressure.
The judge also ruled against Bester’s claim of defamation, noting that the information about to be aired is open to the public’s consumption. He pointed out that Netflix’s documentary will aid the public in enhancing their safety measures and taking further precautions.
While the application was filed in urgency, the Judge opened the opportunity for the duo to refile a defamation case in future.
“A defamation claim can be instituted and damages sought. I cannot find in any way that the screening of the utterances they find to make the doctor guilty affects her right to a fair trial,” the Judge said.
On its own part, Netflix said the three-part documentary is a significant story that covers a large part of Bester’s escape and Magudumana’s alleged role. In another stunning revelation, Netflix revealed that Magundamana was paid for her role in the documentary and was surprised to see her support the suit to block its airing.
Netflix’s lawyer, Advocate Temba Ngcukaitobi, argued that it would be stunning if the court had prevented the public from access to facts. He explained that Netflix’s documentary is purely an attempt to reinstate that Bester is an escapee, and Magudamana championed the escape.
The documentary is scheduled to be aired on Friday at 9 am, SA time.
Netflix’s ‘Beauty and the Bester’: Who is Thabo Bester?
Thabo Bester is known as a serial rapist with several cases detailing the facts. He was tagged the ‘Facebook rapist’ for using the social media platform as a medium to lure his victims.
In 2011, he was found guilty of raping and robbing two women. A year later, Bester was convicted of the rape and murder of his girlfriend, Nomfundo Tyhulu, also a South African.
Having faced court trials, Bester was sentenced to life imprisonment. While serving his eternal term, he escaped a high-security prison in 2022, allegedly with the help of Magudamana.
In that incident, a fire broke out in prison, with the authorities finding a deserted body, which was thought to be Bester’s. Later on, it was discovered not to be his. With the assistance of his accomplice, Bester went on to live undercover for a year in Johannesburg.
However, both were arrested in April 2023 after they fled to Tanzania and immediately deported to SA.
Bester and his partner are currently in custody awaiting trial on charges including defeating the ends of justice, fraud and violating a corpse. While they are yet to plead guilty to the charge, the trial is scheduled for November.
