WATCH: Thabo Bester 'fears for his life' in prison
Convicted killer and rapist Thabo Bester has told the court that he fears for his life and has not eaten since his arrest.
His legal representative, Marvin Carpede-Bester, addressed the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Friday during Bester’s brief appearance.
Bester, who escaped from Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022 by faking his own death, said he wants to be kept in a different prison due to safety concerns.
He also demanded to be furnished with the extradition papers following his arrest in Tanzania last week. He says he does not agree with the identity number on his temporary passport.
During his appearance in court on Friday, Bester was added to the charge sheet of his co-accused, who are facing several charges after his escape last year in May.
Magistrate Mohlolo Khabisi granted the state's application to include him in the case that accuses four others in connection with his escape.
This was Bester's first court appearance after his return from Tanzania, where he had been on the run with his girlfriend, Dr Nandipha Magudumana. She has already appeared in court.
State prosecutor Sello Matlhoko mentioned they want Bester's case to be postponed for over a month to allow time for police investigations as it is a very extensive case.
Bester is facing charges of escaping from lawful custody, defeating the ends of justice, violation of a dead body, and fraud.
The matter was postponed to 16 May 2023.
On this date, Bester will appear with his co-accomplices, including Magudumana's father, Zolile Sekeleni (65), former G4S security guards Seneho Matsoara (39), and Tebeho James Lipholo.
On Thursday, during a brief court appearance of Magudumana and Lipholo, the state prosecutor requested the case to be postponed to Monday for bail information. He also announced that there were possibilities of bail applications by the four co-accused, including Magudumana.
Bester staged a fire in his cell before he escaped from prison in May 2022.
The charred body of an unknown person, who suffered blunt force trauma to the head, was found burnt beyond recognition after being planted inside his cell. The body was allegedly planted so that Bester could make his well-executed escape from the private prison.
Bester and Magudumana were on the run before being caught in Tanzania last week and returned to South Africa on Thursday morning.
On Wednesday, the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, heard how Bester was moved to cell 35, despite it not being approved, from where he made his escape. The cell is in a blind spot and is near an emergency exit.
After being returned to the country from Tanzania in a private jet, along with Magudumana, Bester was taken to the Kgosi Mampuru Maximum Prison in Pretoria while Magudumana was transported to Bloemfontein under heavy guard, where she appeared in court.
