The Free State High Court in Bloemfontein postponed the Thabo Bester prison-escape matter to 19 April 2027 for plea and trial, after a pre-trial hearing on 28 August 2026 where Bester and his co-accused Dr Nandipha Magudumana appeared virtually. The family of Katlego Bereng, whose body was allegedly used as a decoy in the escape, wants both accused to appear in person, according to SABC News reporting from the Bloemfontein court.
Bester and Magudumana were arrested in Tanzania in April 2023 and returned to South Africa to face charges linked to Bester’s May 2022 escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre. The case centres on allegations that Bereng’s body was placed in Bester’s cell after a fire to make it appear he had died, allowing the convicted rapist to flee undetected.
Judge Mareena Opperman confirmed the new dates during the hearing. “The matter is then so postponed for plea and trial to 19 April 2027, up until 18 June 2027, again here in Bloemfontein in the Free State division of the High Court,” she said, as reported by The Citizen. The court ordered that accused numbers one and seven — Bester and Magudumana — must appear in person for the trial, while the remaining accused who are out on bail must also return on the April date.
Delays in the matter stem from outstanding legal issues, including consultation problems. Attorney Moafrika Wa Maila, representing one of the accused, told the court that lawyers had not been able to consult properly due to Bester’s occasional transfers to eBongweni Maximum Security. “We have not yet received the docket because we have not been instructed in that direction,” Wa Maila said, according to SABC News.
Advocate Dansi Mpemvane offered to assist with arrangements for proper consultation, saying in court: “I will avail myself to assist with the help of the investigating officer that arrangements are made for a proper consultation.” Advocate Machini Motloung confirmed the matter could not proceed to trial as initially planned for January, OFM reported.
The Bereng family’s desire for in-person appearances reflects broader frustration among victims’ families over the slow pace of South Africa’s high-profile criminal prosecutions. The case has drawn national attention since Bester’s escape exposed serious security failures at the privately run Mangaung facility operated by G4S, which was subsequently stripped of its contract by the Department of Correctional Services.
The exact wording of the Bereng family’s request and the identity of the family member who spoke have not been independently verified by CapeFlats.co.za from at least two sources. This article is based on reporting by SABC News, OFM, The Citizen, and EWN, which were present at the Bloemfontein hearing. CapeFlats.co.za journalists were not in court and has not independently confirmed scene-level details beyond what these outlets reported.
What remains unknown is whether the trial will proceed on the April 2027 date or face further delays. CapeFlats.co.za will check back on this story once the court confirms the trial roll and any pre-trial applications are filed.