BLOEMFONTEIN - Convicted rapist Thabo Bester has fired his legal representatives in his prison escape trial and will represent himself when the trial begins in April 2027.
He will challenge his treatment behind bars at the Free State High Court on 16 October.
Bester claims prison restrictions have limited his access to lawyers, legal resources and communication.
The prison escapee is charged alongside his partner, Nandipha Magudumana, and seven other co-accused.
He faces charges stemming from his escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022. Magudumana and six others are accused of aiding his escape.
Meanwhile, Magudumana’s Constitutional Court challenge over her deportation remains pending.
Bester has previously said he struggles to consult with his legal team while in prison.