News24.com | Bester, Magudumana appear virtually in highly anticipated Bloemfontein court date, matter postponed

• Scores of journalists who flocked to the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court to see Thabo Bester were disappointed because he appeared virtually.
• His case was postponed and his appearance was brief.
• His lover, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, also appeared virtually and her case was also postponed.

Local and international journalists who flocked to the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court with the hope of catching a glimpse of Facebook rapist Thabo Bester were disappointed because he appeared virtually from Pretoria.

His lover, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, also appeared virtually.

News24 understands Bester was upset that he was not permitted to appear in person.

READ | Facebook rapist Thabo Bester appears in court wearing a hoodie worth almost R19k

However, it is believed that authorities knew the matter would be postponed. They didn't think it was worth it to drive from Pretoria to Bloemfontein just so he could be in court for a few minutes.

The convicted rapist and murderer is being held in Pretoria at the Kgosi Mampuru II maximum security prison, which is more than 450km from the court. 

Due to the fact that he escaped from prison and was caught in Tanzania with Magudumana, he is classified as a fight risk and extra security is needed to move him.

Bester appeared in courtroom 19, which has screens for virtual hearings.

The media, who had set up to film in courtroom 17, which was usually used, were required to move to the new location.

Bester, who had shaved off his long hair, wore a black Balenciaga hoodie.

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His new advocate, Tsoeunyane Jeremiah Pela, told the court that he needed to have Bester in court to be able to communicate with him properly.

He also argued that the court had not adequately identified the man before it, implying that the Bester everyone was looking at could have been an imposter.

Bester's case was postponed to 20 June, the same month that Pela is expected to go on trial for alleged corruption involving security tender bribery at Motheo TVET College in Bloemfontein.

The Kroonstad prison where Magudumana is currently being detained could not connect to courtroom 19.

She was connected virtually from courtroom 28, which has a screen too and is usually set aside for sexual crimes.

Her matter was also postponed until 20 June.

Back in courtroom 17, Zolile Sekeleni, Magudumana's father, joined Senohe Matsoara, Teboho Lipholo, Motenyani Masukela Tieho Makhotsa, and Natassja Jansen in the dock.

Sekeleni is out on bail and his case was postponed to 20 June.

The other accused will remain in prison until their bail applications are finalised.

The matter is expected back in court on Friday.