Kirsten Kluyts murder accused Bafana Mahungela to spend Christmas behind bars

Bafana Mahungela, the student linked to the murder of Sandton schoolteacher Kirsten Kluyts, will spend Christmas behind bars after his bail hearing was postponed to next Friday. 

After the defence's closing arguments on Wednesday, prosecutor Ayanda Bakana asked for a postponement.

“The state would be doing an injustice to the family of the victim, as well as to the applicant. We need, as the state, to clear certain issues that have been raised.”

The defence objected to this request, accusing the state of abusing its power and saying the prosecution's behaviour was bordering on “punishing” Mahungela.

The request for the postponement was “ill-founded”.

Advocate Itumeleng Masako tried to plead for an earlier date of December 22, but this was rejected by magistrate Syta Prinsloo, given Bakana's unavailability on that date.

Prinsloo postponed the matter to December 29. 

“The matter is postponed ... [at] the state's request and to finalise this matter. The accused will remain in custody until then,” Prinsloo said.

A bulk of the day's proceedings was taken up by the defence's closing arguments, which came after the state submitted its case in the form of two affidavits from the investigating officer and a general manager from 24/7.

Motivating for his client's release on bail, Maseko cited examples of Oscar Pistorius and Jason Rohde, who both got bail despite the seriousness of their charges. 

He said the defence had taken a high risk in putting Mahungela on the stand but “with great success”. The state's decision, according to him, to rely on affidavits was an “act of cowardice”.

Meanwhile, a report emerged revealing Kluyts' desperate desire to become a mother.

It was confirmed in court she was about 14 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.

According to eNCA, Kluyts had opted for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) to conceive.

A lawyer appointed by the family as a watching brief said they had no comment at this stage as they were bracing for a painful Christmas given the double loss of not only their daughter but their unborn grandchild.

Mahungela, 21, was arrested nearly a month after the murder of Kluyts. 

Her body was found on a path near the Sandton Sports Club when people searched for her after she failed to finish the MyRun event in Parkmore on October 29. 

Kluyts, 34, was a teacher at Delta Park High School. 

The state this week revealed images which placed Mahungela in the vicinity of where Kluyts' body was found. 

The Varsity College student is charged with premeditated murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and rape. He was linked to the crime after photographs showed him wearing the T-shirt Kluyts had been wearing when she went missing.

He has conceded to finding her body and undressing her. He claimed she was already dead when he found her but neglected to report it to authorities.

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