The bail application for the 21-year-old college student, Bafana Mahungela accused of raping and murdering Kirsten Kluyts has been denied, and he will spend the New Year in jail.
On Friday, Bafana Mahungela appeared in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court, where the verdict was delivered. The court stated in its decision that he constituted a menace to women in society.
Mahungela is charged with rape, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and planned murder, all of which are schedule 6 offenses.
[ JAC Motors Cut Ties With Ngizwe Mchunu After Malema Remarks ]
The court determined that the state had established prima facie evidence of premeditated murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances, but not rape.
In his bail application, the state argued that Mahungela’s testimony did not add up and was not backed up by evidence.
“It is submitted, with respect, that the only reason the accused will be untruthful is because he was the one who inflicted the injuries that led to the victim’s death.”
It stated that the absence of rape-related injuries did not preclude her from being raped. Mahungela’s lawyer said he was abused in police custody and that the case against him was weak.
“The state’s case at the point in time is found wanting. It is groundless. It is clutching at straws. At best it is flogging a dead horse, hoping it will wake up and start to run,” the accused lawyer said.
Kluyts, who was 14 weeks pregnant with a baby boy at the time of her brutal murder on 29 October, was attacked at George Lea Park in Parkmore, Johannesburg after she took part in the MyRun event.
Fellow runners discovered the naked body of the 34-year-old. Kluyts’ jogging shoes, sunglasses, blue T-shirt, jeans, and pink cap were all confiscated.
Kluyts was allegedly assaulted with a blunt weapon before being suffocated and strangled.
Her alleged killer was apprehended at his student apartment on November 26 after police got video footage from CCTV cameras near Parkmore.
Catch up with the latest news from The Times Post on WhatsApp by following our channel. Click here to join.
