Thabo Bester is set to challenge the conditions of his incarceration as he prepares to face trial over his alleged escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre.
Bester is expected to appear before the Free State High Court on 16 October, where he will challenge restrictions he claims have affected his access to communication, legal resources and lawyers.
The convicted rapist and murderer has alleged that he has been subjected to prolonged solitary confinement since his return to South Africa in 2023.
He has previously challenged his placement in a high-security correctional facility, arguing that being held at eBongweni Super Maximum Correctional Centre in KwaZulu-Natal has made it difficult to consult his legal representatives.
His previous bid to be transferred to Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre was dismissed by the courts, which found that virtual communication facilities were available for legal consultations.
The court also pointed to Bester’s history of escaping custody as justification for his continued detention under heightened security.
Bester is expected to represent himself at his April 2027 trial after reportedly dismissing his legal team.
He is facing proceedings linked to his alleged escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022, after authorities said he faked his death in a prison cell fire.
Bester was arrested in Tanzania in April 2023 alongside his then-partner, Nandipha Magudumana, after almost a year on the run.
While Bester has repeatedly denied escaping from prison and claimed he was lawfully released, authorities maintain that he staged his death to facilitate his escape.
His latest court challenge puts the focus back on his treatment in custody and the extent to which prison restrictions may affect his ability to prepare for the upcoming trial.