Johannesburg – The 21-year-old Varsity College student Bafana Mahungela accused of the murder of high school teacher Kirsten Anne Kluyts was arrested based on video evidence it emerged on Tuesday.
This after the accused appeared briefly in the Alexandra Regional Magistrate’s Court.
The case relates to the discovery of 34-year-old Kluyts’ lifeless body at the George Lea recreational park in Parkmore on 29 October 2023.
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Kluyts was a teacher at Delta Park High School.
“She had participated in an athletic event that day, and other athletes realised she was missing when the race was finished,” said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Gauteng Spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane.
“They started searching for her and found her body dumped next to a walking path.”
Although initial reports of the horrific attack on the 34-year-old said she had been raped, the NPA on Tuesday said, for now, the accused only faces a murder charge, but other charges could still be added later.
Mjonondwane said DNA tests were still outstanding.
Earlier, Mahungela told the court he had not yet secured the services of a lawyer to represent him.
As a result, the matter was adjourned to 5 December 2023 to enable the accused to secure the services of a lawyer.
Mahungela was remanded in custody until his next appearance.
Mjonondwane said the accused was arrested at the Varsity College student residence in Benmore on Sunday, (26 November 2023).
She added that the accused was arrested following video footage obtained from the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras near Parkmore.
