Overview

• The Free State High Court in Bloemfontein holds a final pre-trial hearing on Friday to determine whether the long-delayed escape trial can proceed.
• Thabo Bester, Dr. Nandipha Magudumana and several co-accused, including former prison officials, face charges that include aiding an escape, arson and violating a corpse.
• The court is expected to address Bester’s complaints about limited time to consult his lawyers and to clarify issues around his legal fees.
• Judges will consider the status of co-accused Zolile Sekeleni’s representation after a legal-aid application was rejected.
• Details of Magudumana’s planned Constitutional Court challenge to her deportation may be aired, and a legal expert has said attempts to stop a Netflix documentary were unlikely to succeed.