The Correctional Services Department has Denied Claims of Bester-Receiving Illness Treatment

(The Post News)- Thabo Bester, a convicted murderer and rapist, has claimed that he is receiving unfair treatment at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in Pretoria, where he is being detained, but the Correctional Services Department has refuted these claims.
 
On Wednesday morning, July 24, Bester and his girlfriend, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, were among the nine accused who appeared at the Free State High Court.
 
The accused are charged with fraud, corruption, destroying evidence, assisting a prisoner in escaping, arson, and violating a corpse. 
 
The charges are related to Bester’s escape from prison in May 2022.
 
Bester informed the court that he is filing an application over unjust restrictions at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre through his attorney, Advocate Lerato Moela.
 
According to Bester’s attorneys, Bester is being treated as if he has already been found guilty of the crimes he is accused of, and communicating with him has not been easy.
 
Moela further claimed that the treatment received by his client in prison is affecting his mental health, and he maintained that if Bester was not mentally ill, the case would be impacted or postponed.
 
Molla told the court that he was seen in the flesh for the first time Wednesday, as he always sees him through a glass window or consults with him over the phone. 
 
He added that when he tried to consult him in the holding cells, it was a challenge.
 
He expressed that the rights of his client were being infringed upon in several ways, one of which was that he appeared in court chained up like a criminal.
 
 
In addition to that, Moela claimed that his client is being denied access to competent legal counsel and consultations, and his client does not appear to be entitled to the presumption of “innocent until proven guilty.” 
 
 
According to Makgothi Thobakgale, the National Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services, Bester’s allegations are baseless.
 
 
Moreover, Thobakgale said that the source of the issue is the requests that the department will not be able to fulfil.
 
 
The department is still required to transport Bester from Bloemfontein to Pretoria. 
 
Thobakgale stated that they must ensure his transport while managing any potential security issues, which is why Bester has not been granted permission to consult with his attorneys.
 
However, Bester was given a chance to consult in court.
 
 
The case has been adjourned for Wednesday next week to allow the two additional accused individuals to submit their applications for legal representation.