Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester has approached the Johannesburg High Court to challenge his transfer from Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Facility in Pretoria to the eBongweni Super Maximum Correctional Facility in Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal.
In his court application, Bester is seeking an order declaring the transfer unlawful, invalid and unconstitutional. He argues that the Department of Correctional Services acted outside its legal powers by moving him to the super maximum facility.
Bester is the second high-profile accused to be transferred from Kgosi Mampuru II to eBongweni Super Max. Just last week, lawyers for Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala raised similar concerns in the Johannesburg High Court, arguing that his transfer to Kokstad has interfered with his legal team’s ability to adequately prepare his defence.
According to the urgent application Bester is requesting an immediate transfer back to Gauteng, though not specifically to Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre.
He is also seeking an order interdicting and restricting the Department of Correctional Services from transferring him back to eBongweni Super Maximum Correctional Facility for the duration of his criminal proceedings.
The application is set to be heard in the Johannesburg High Court next Tuesday.