- Thabo Bester files court action to block Netflix documentary Beauty and the Bester.
- Documentary explores Bester’s crimes, prison escape, and alleged help from partner Nandipha Magudumana.
- Bester is serving life for rape and murder, previously dubbed the “Facebook rapist.”
- He allegedly faked his death in a 2022 prison fire and lived under an alias in Johannesburg.
- Legal debate centers on right to a fair trial versus victims’ platform; High Court ruling expected before release.
South Africa’s notorious criminal Thabo Bester, known for a string of rape and murder convictions, has moved to prevent Netflix from airing a documentary chronicling his life, including his alleged prison escape and faked death.
The three-part series, titled Beauty and the Bester, examines Bester’s criminal acts and the alleged role of his partner, celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana, in facilitating his escape. Both Bester and Magudumana are involved in the legal effort to halt the documentary’s global release, which was scheduled for Friday. The High Court is expected to issue a ruling shortly before the broadcast.
Bester’s criminal record includes a 2012 conviction for the rape and murder of his model girlfriend Nomfundo Tyhulu and prior convictions for raping and robbing two other women. He became infamously known as the “Facebook rapist” for using social media to target victims.
While serving a life sentence, Bester allegedly staged his escape in 2022. Authorities initially discovered a charred body in the prison fire, believed to be his, which later turned out to be another person. He reportedly remained undetected for a year while living under an alias in Johannesburg, aided by Magudumana. The pair were arrested in Tanzania in April 2023 and deported to South Africa, where they await trial on charges including fraud, defeating the ends of justice, and violating a corpse. They have not yet entered pleas.
Bester’s lawyer, Advocate Moafrika Wa Maila, argued that the documentary compromises his client’s right to a fair trial and claimed its title was defamatory, portraying Bester as a “beast.” Netflix’s legal team countered that the film provides victims with a long-overdue opportunity to be heard and silencing it would deny them that platform.
The case has captured national and international attention, highlighting outrage over Bester’s alleged escape in a country with one of the highest sexual assault rates worldwide.
