Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester and his partner, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, have launched an urgent court application to stop the release of a new Netflix documentary about their case.
Thabo Bester Netflix documentary sparks urgent legal battle
The three-part series, titled Beauty and the Bester, is set to be released globally on 12 September 2025.
According to court papers, Bester and Magudumana argue that the documentary makes “serious, unfounded and defamatory submissions” about them. Their lawyers say releasing the documentary before their trial could harm their constitutional rights and amount to an abuse of media freedom.
The Thabo Bester Netflix documentary focuses on Bester’s prison escape, which shocked South Africa in 2022. Bester, who was serving time for rape and murder, faked his own death inside Mangaung maximum prison. He and Magudumana, a well-known celebrity doctor, then lived secretly in Johannesburg until they were spotted in Sandton.
The series also covers their dramatic arrest in Tanzania in 2023, and their extradition back to South Africa. They are now both awaiting trial, which is scheduled to run from 10 November 2025 until 29 March 2026.
Magudumana’s father speaks out in trailer
One of the most striking features of the Netflix documentary is the participation of Zolile Cornelius Sekeleni, Magudumana’s father. Sekeleni, who is also facing charges in connection with the case and is currently out on R10,000 bail, appears in the trailer.
In the clip, he admits that he “didn’t like the things his daughter was involved in,” seemingly referring to her relationship with Bester. His inclusion in the documentary has already generated significant public interest, as he has been a controversial figure in the case.
This is not the first time Bester and Magudumana have tried to stop a documentary about their story. In 2023, they unsuccessfully attempted to block Showmax from releasing Tracking Thabo Bester. The court dismissed their application, ruling that they had only shown “generalised anxiety” and not real evidence that the documentary would harm their right to a fair trial.
The urgent application to stop the Thabo Bester Netflix documentary will be heard on 9 September 2025, just three days before the planned release. If the court rules against Bester and Magudumana, Beauty and the Bester will air as scheduled on 12 September.