The case against Bafana Mahungela, the 21-year-old accused of murdering teacher Kirsten Kluyts, has taken a new turn.
Bafana Mahungela charged with rape in Kirsten Kluyts murder case
State prosecutors have added a charge of rape to his list of accusations. Mahungela is already facing charges of pre-meditated murder and robbery with aggravated circumstances.
Kirsten Kluyts, a teacher, was attacked during the MyRun event at Sandton Sports Club on 29 October 2023. She was found down an embankment in George Lea Park.
Her disappearance was noticed when she didn’t show up at the finish line by 09:00, leading to a search and the discovery of her body at 09:30.
Mahungela was arrested at a student residence at 16:00 on Sunday, 26 November 2023, following a collaborative effort between the police and 24/7 Security Management.
This case grabbed attention because it happened at an organised event in a secure area in Sandton, usually considered safe.
The new rape charge against Mahungela adds a serious dimension to the case. Previously, only the murder charge was known to his legal team, who are now contesting the sudden addition of more charges.
In court, Mahungela’s constraints were removed, considering the nature of the offences he’s charged with.
The robbery charge is classified as a Schedule 6 offence, but now, with the added rape and pre-mediated murder charges, the case is more complex.
The case was still ongoing when this article was published.