Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester is once again in the spotlight—this time not for another daring escape, but for a legal battle with Netflix. Bester has filed an urgent court application to stop the streaming giant from releasing Beauty and the Bester, a documentary set to premiere on September 12. The film promises to dig deep into his relationship with celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana and his jaw-dropping 2022 prison break that shook South Africa.
Bester, nicknamed the “Facebook Rapist,” was jailed for life in 2012 after luring women online, raping at least two, and killing another. But his notoriety went global in May 2022 when it was revealed that he faked his death in a prison fire and pulled off one of the most audacious escapes in South African history. He was later rearrested in Tanzania in 2023 alongside Dr. Magudumana, sparking fresh charges linked to the prison break.
Now, Bester’s lawyers are arguing that the Netflix documentary could compromise his right to a fair trial. They claim the film paints him in an even darker light, making “serious and defamatory” allegations that may influence public perception before courts conclude the ongoing escape-related case. In essence, they want the release blocked—at least until a judge decides whether the film violates his rights.
Netflix has remained tight-lipped, continuing to promote the documentary despite the legal noise. Meanwhile, South Africans are already buzzing about the trailer, fascinated by how Bester allegedly manipulated people, exploited weak prison systems, and exposed cracks in the justice system.
His latest move against Netflix adds yet another twist to a saga that already reads like a crime thriller. Whether or not the courts halt the documentary, one thing is certain: Thabo Bester’s name won’t be leaving the headlines anytime soon.
