Johannesburg — The accused murderer in the Kirsten Kluyts case, Bafana Mahungela, is set to spend Christmas behind bars as his bail hearing has officially been adjourned to 29 December.
Mahungela is accused of murdering Kirsten Kluyts on 29 October 2023.
Kluyts was at an event in Sandton when she was killed and CCTV footage, as well as a cellphone location, placed Mahungela at the crime scene the day that she died.
Mahungela returned to court on Wednesday and following the defence’s closing arguments, prosecutor Ayanda Bakana asked for a postponement, TimesLIVE reported.
“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.”
#BafanaMahungela will spend Christmas behind bars. His bail hearing has been adjourned until December 29. #Newzroom405‘s @sholwana_z has the wrap of today’s proceedings.#KirstenKluyts
Watch: https://t.co/ctYQVASiRM pic.twitter.com/jrvR91wPDP
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) December 20, 2023
The defence objected to the request and accused the state of abusing its power, adding that the prosecution’s behaviour was bordering on “punishing” Mahungela.
Advocate, Itumeleng Masako, pleaded 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.
Maseko advocated for his client’s release on bail and used examples of Oscar Pistorius and Jason Rhode, who got bail despite the seriousness of their charges.
According to eNCA, Kluyts was pregnant at the time of her death when she underwent fertility treatment, after she had her ovaries removed three years before her death.
Bakana read out in court an affidavit made by a witness from a security company, revealing the alleged details of the fateful morning.
Kirsten had her one ovary removed 3 years ago. She was not in a relationship but really wanted to be a mother. She was 14 weeks pregnant with a baby boy at the time of her murder. #eNCA #KirstenKluyts
— Heidi Giokos (@HeidiGiokos) December 20, 2023
Meanwhile, IOL reported that a post-mortem read out showed that Kluyts’ death was caused by blunt force head trauma, strangulation, smothering and pressure to the neck. It took roughly eight minutes to inflict those injuries and end her life.
The State identified an eight-minute window in which it believes Kluyts was attacked and killed. Mahungela has been charged with premeditated murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and rape.
[WATCH] The post-mortem revealed that the cause of #KirstenKluyts‘ death was blunt force head trauma, strangulation, smothering and pressure to the neck. #BafanaMahungela‘s bail hearing continues in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/cespC79kWv
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) December 20, 2023
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@Rabbitking007
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Matthew Petersen
