Bafana Mahungela made a brief appearance at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, following his arrest for the brutal murder of Kirsten Kluyts.
Watch: Nervous Bafana Mahungela makes first court appearance
PLEASE NOTE: The third-party content below is shared on our platform for journalistic purposes. Swisher Post, its parent company, partners and affiliates shall not be held liable for any consequence that arises from the journalistic duties performed in sharing this content.
The 21-year-old student donned an Adidas hoodie, visibly shaken and nervous, as he stood before the magistrate for the first time since he was taken into custody on Sunday, 26 November 2023.
Tuesday’s court procession was brief. State prosecutors formally registered a murder charge on the court roll and informed the magistrate that, at this juncture, Mahungela will not be booked for rape, since forensic results from tests done on Kluyts are still outstanding.
The 21-year-old suspect will be back in court on Tuesday, 5 December 2023, where he will be given an opportunity to secure the services of a lawyer.
State prosecutors, of course, have made it clear they will be opposing Mahungela’s conditional release if, indeed, Mahungela submits a bail application.
“The accused before court is facing a serious charge, one of murder and hence we will be opposing bail as the state. But, as to the reasons why we will be opposing bail, they will be advanced in court once we reach that stage,” NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwana told reporters.
While police haven’t said much, they did confirm the suspect was identified wearing Kluyts’ blue T-shirt as he exited the sports complex, a significant lead that contributed to his apprehension.
Kluyts, a respected schoolteacher, was participating in the MyRun event at the Sandton Sports Club on 29 October 2023. Tragically, she was attacked, dragged away, raped, and murdered.
Her absence was noted when she did not arrive at the finish line by 09:00, leading concerned runners to discover her body at 09:30.
The murder of Kluyts has been particularly shocking due to its occurrence during an organised event within a guarded, enclosed sports complex in an upscale gated community in Sandton.