One of South Africa's most notorious rapists and murderers, Thabo Bester, has taken legal action to block Netflix from broadcasting a documentary about his life - detailing how he allegedly faked his death and escaped from prison.
His lawyers asserted that Beauty and the Bester is defamatory, but Netflix defended its plan to release the three-part investigation. Bester's partner, celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana, is also involved in the court bid to halt the documentary's release.
The High Court is expected to deliver its ruling just minutes before the documentary's global debut on Friday.
Bester was convicted in 2012 for raping and murdering his model girlfriend, Nomfundo Tyhulu, and was previously found guilty of raping and robbing two other women.
He earned the moniker 'Facebook rapist' for using the social media platform to lure victims. Allegedly serving a life sentence, Bester escaped from a maximum-security prison in 2022, following the discovery of a charred body that authorities initially believed to be his own.
For a year, he reportedly lived under an alias in Johannesburg, aided by Magudumana. The couple was apprehended in Tanzania in April 2023 and deported back to South Africa, where they remain in custody facing multiple charges, including actions that obstruct justice.
Bester's lawyer, Advocate Moafrika Wa Maila, contended in court that the documentary undermines his client's right to a fair trial, claiming there is no proof of his escape. Netflix's legal representative, Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, stated that the documentary provides a platform for Bester's victims to share their stories after enduring years of silence.
The judge indicated that a ruling would be forthcoming shortly before the film's release.
Bester's controversial escape has incited public outrage in South Africa, a nation grappling with high rates of sexual violence.
