The trial of Bafana Mahungela, the 22-year-old student accused of the brutal murder of Sandton teacher Kirsten Kluyts, has been postponed to Wednesday due to the unavailability of the presiding officer.

The case was expected to begin on Monday at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court. 

However, defence attorney Mothokozi Ngcowane confirmed outside the court that the matter has been postponed to October 15 because the presiding officer assigned to the case was unavailable.

“The judge who is presiding over the case is not available today,” Ngcowane told the media. 

“We were informed that he’s committed in another matter in the Johannesburg High Court. We were ready to proceed, but the matter has been postponed to Wednesday, October 15, for trial.”

Mahungela faces multiple charges, including kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder and attempted rape.

He was arrested in November 2023 at a student residence in Parkmore after the body of Kluyts, a teacher at Delta Park High School, was found dumped on a jogging path in George Lea Park, Sandton, on October 29, 2023.

Kluyts had been participating in a local athletic event on the day she was killed and was pregnant at the time of her death.

According to investigators, surveillance footage showed Mahungela wearing a black T-shirt and trousers before the murder. 

He was later seen leaving the vicinity of the crime scene at 8:49 a.m, wearing a blue T-shirt identified by investigators as the same one Kluyts had been wearing earlier that morning.

He was also seen holding a black item in his left hand.

IOL News previously reported that Mahungela admitted to undressing Kluyts and leaving her naked in the bushes, claiming he only did so to remove fingerprints after attempting to “help” her. 

Her clothes were later found dumped in a nearby drain.

Post-mortem results revealed that Kluyts died from blunt-force head trauma and strangulation. The State alleges it took approximately eight minutes to inflict the fatal injuries.

The defence had filed representations arguing that the prosecution lacked sufficient evidence to link Mahungela to the crime.

However, the State, represented by Advocates Siyabonga Futshana and Leisha Surendra, said it is fully prepared to proceed.

“In response, Advocates Siyabonga Futshana and Leisha Surendra presented the State’s position in court, confirming that the prosecution is ready to proceed to trial,” said NPA Gauteng spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane.

The trial was scheduled to begin on Monday, October 13, 2025 at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court.

Mahungela was previously denied bail and will remain in custody until the trial resumes.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL News

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