- The Pretoria High Court dismissed an urgent interdict by Thabo Bester and Dr Nandipha Magudumana to block Netflix’s documentary Beauty and the Bester.
- Judge Sulet Potterill ruled that urgency was self-created and the documentary contains mostly public domain content.
- Netflix released the documentary on 12 September at 9am, as scheduled.
- This marks the second failed attempt by the pair to block a true-crime documentary about their case.
Court Dismisses Bester and Magudumana’s Attempt to Block Netflix Doccie
Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester and his co-accused, Dr NandiphaMagudumana, have failed in their last-minute legal attempt to stop Netflix from releasing the highly anticipated documentary Beauty and the Bester.
The pair approached the Pretoria High Court seeking an urgent interdict to halt the film’s release, arguing it would unfairly prejudice their upcoming criminal trial and infringe on their constitutional rights. However, Judge Sulet Potterill dismissed the application with costs, stating that the urgency was self-created.
Judge Rules Documentary Will Not Affect Fair Trial
Magudumana claimed that airing the documentary ahead of trial would amount to “convicting them in the court of public opinion,” while Bester’s legal team argued that it would infringe on his right to a fair trial.
Judge Potterill rejected those arguments, stating clearly:
“No judge will be influenced by a documentary. Judicial officers rely only on evidence presented in court.”
She added that the public nature of the case, the media coverage surrounding it, and prior knowledge of the documentary all contributed to the dismissal.
Netflix Proceeds with Global Release
Netflix opposed the interdict, stating that Magudumana was aware of the production for months and was even compensated for her participation. The court found that she had ample time to object prior to the scheduled release on Friday, 12 September at 9am.
With the ruling handed down just minutes before the premiere, Beauty and the Bester launched globally on Netflix as planned. The documentary follows Bester’s elaborate prison escape, his relationship with Magudumana, and the massive manhunt that followed.
Not Their First Legal Attempt
This is not the couple’s first attempt to halt a documentary about their criminal saga. In 2024, they unsuccessfully tried to block Showmax’s Tracking Thabo Bester, a docuseries based on the GroundUp investigation into Bester’s escape. That case was dismissed by the Johannesburg High Court, and the Showmax series aired in March 2024.
What Happens Next?
With the documentary now streaming, attention shifts back to the upcoming criminal trial, where both Bester and Magudumana face multiple charges — including escape, fraud, identity theft, and violating several sections of the Correctional Services Act.
The case continues to capture both national and international attention, now further amplified by the Netflix release.