State expected to oppose bail as Kirsten Kluyts murder case postponed

Kirsten Kluyts was murdered on 29 October while jogging at George Lea Park in Parkmore.

Bafana Makhungela in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on 28 November 2023. Picture: X / @JacaNews

The alleged murderer of Johannesburg teacher Kirsten Kluyts will remain behind bars for a week before he returns to the dock again.

Bafana Mahungela made his first appearance at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday in connection with Kluyts’ murder.

The 21-year-old was arrested at a student accommodation in Sandton on Sunday.

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Kluyts, a teacher at Delta Park High School, was attacked while participating in the MyRun event in Sandton on 29 October.

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The 34-year-old’s body was found off the running track in a secluded area at the Sandton Sports Club.

The police obtained video footage from the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the vicinity of Parkmore.

Bail to be opposed

Mahungela’s case has since been postponed to 5 December for the suspect to find legal representation, according to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Speaking to the media outside the court on Tuesday, Gauteng NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane confirmed the state would challenge Mahungela’s bail.

“We will be opposing his application to be released on bail if we reach that stage. For now, the matter has been postponed for him to appoint a lawyer. We will be back in court on the 5th of December 2023.

“He has elected to appoint his own private lawyers, and hopefully by then he would appoint someone to represent him legally so that we can know whether or not they want to bring an application to be released,” she said.

“The reasons why we will be opposing bail will be advanced in court once we reach that stage,” Mjonondwane continued.

More charges?

Mjonondwane said it was too early to say whether Mahungela would also be charged with rape.

“For now, the only charge the accused is facing is a murder charge. However, investigations are ongoing. There are still outstanding DNA results that the state needs to acquire. Therefore, for now, the only charge he is facing is murder. We will be guided by the outcome of the outstanding investigations whether or not additional charges should be added to the one he is facing,” the NPA regional spokesperson said.

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