Accused Facebook Rapist Loses Bid to Block Netflix Documentary

A court in South Africa has denied a request to block the release of a Netflix documentary about Thabo Bester, a man who was convicted of rape and murder and escaped from prison by faking his own death. Bester, also known as the “Facebook Rapist,” made headlines in 2023 when he was arrested in Tanzania after his escape.

Bester and his partner, Dr. Nandipha Magudumana, tried to stop the three-part documentary titled “Beauty and the Bester,” claiming it was defamatory and violated their right to a fair trial. However, the court ruled against them, stating that their petition was not urgent and that the issue was already public knowledge.

Although the judge said that Bester and Magudumana could pursue a lawsuit for defamation after the documentary is released, it was noted that the screening of the documentary would not impact their right to a fair trial.

Thabo Bester was originally sentenced to life in prison in 2012 for using Facebook to lure victims, then raping, robbing, and in some cases killing them. Following his supposed death, doubts were raised by local media outlets, leading to a new murder investigation. The body found in Bester’s cell was identified as someone else, and it was determined that they had died from blunt force trauma to the head.

Bester and Magudumana were apprehended in Tanzania and deported back to South Africa in April 2023. The documentary about their story was released shortly after the court’s decision.