What’s Holding Up the Bester Trial? (2025)
Nearly two years after Thabo Bester’s escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre brought the criminal justice system under intense scrutiny, the criminal trial linked to the escape has yet to begin.
The case, involving Bester and Nandipha Magudumana, remains stuck in pre-trial proceedings before the High Court in Bloemfontein. Despite public expectation of swift accountability, the court has been consumed by procedural disputes that must be resolved before evidence can be heard.
Central to the delays have been disagreements over legal representation, multiple pre-trial applications, and questions around trial readiness. These processes, while frustrating for the public, form part of the accused’s constitutional rights and the court’s obligation to ensure a fair trial.
The National Prosecuting Authority has maintained that it is prepared to proceed once outstanding legal matters are resolved. Defence teams, meanwhile, have continued to raise objections and applications that require the court’s attention before the case can move forward.
Presiding Judge Nthabiseng Mokoena has repeatedly had to balance the demand for progress with the legal necessity of addressing each procedural issue properly. The result has been a case that remains in limbo, with no firm trial start date by the end of 2025.
This episode of SA Explained does not speculate on outcomes or assign blame. Instead, it explains the legal mechanics behind the delay; why the trial has not started, what steps are still outstanding, and how the case has come to symbolise broader frustrations with the pace of justice in South Africa.