The Johannesburg High Court has firmly scheduled the trial of Bafana Mahungela for October 13, 2025, in connection with the chilling murder of Kirsten Kluyts, a respected Delta Park High teacher.
Mahungela, 22, faces a daunting list of charges: murder, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted rape, and defeating the ends of justice. The charges stem from the October 29, 2023, killing of Kluyts, whose body was discovered near a Parkmore walking trail after a local athletics event.
Shocking Details of the Case
The postmortem report revealed that Kluyts was 14 weeks pregnant and had suffered severe blunt-force trauma. Critical to the prosecution’s case are CCTV footage and forensic evidence, which played a key role in Mahungela’s arrest a month after the incident.
No Letup From the DPP
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has decisively rejected defense attempts to withdraw the charges, signaling strong confidence in the state’s evidence. This decision echoes a growing legal trend affirming the importance and admissibility of forensic proof in South Africa’s courts.
Broader Context: Justice Amid Crime Crisis
This trial unfolds against the backdrop of South Africa’s alarmingly low conviction rate for violent crimes—just 7.2% in 2023, according to the South African Police Service. The case is being closely watched as a barometer of public faith in the justice system’s ability to hold perpetrators accountable.
Mahungela remains in custody as the nation prepares for a trial many hope will deliver clarity and justice in one of the country’s most high-profile and heart-wrenching cases.
