BAFANA Mahungela has been denied bail by the Alexandra Magistrates Court in Joburg on Friday, 29 December.
He's facing charges of killing and raping teacher Kirsten Kluyts (34).
Mahungela (21) has been charged with rape, premeditated murder, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The accused maintained that he did not kill the teacher but stumbled upon her body in a hidden area.
He further said he left the park wearing her T-shirt to get rid of his fingerprints from her body.
The Delta Park High teacher, who was 14 weeks pregnant, was found murdered at the George Lea Recreational Park in Parkmore, Sandton, on October 29.
Magistrate Syta Prinsloo, handing down her judgment, said the evidence before the court showed that Kluytz was brutally murdered with an object.
“She was brutally assaulted by the possibility of strangling and neck pressure cannot be excluded,” she said.
ALSO READ: Kasi family desperately looking for Dineo (16)
Prinsloo said evidence shows Mahungela poses a danger to society.
“Given the prima farce evidence against the applicant, the court is of the opinion that the applicant poses a danger to society to women in our community. The applicant disposed of her clothing potentially eliminating valuable evidence and failed to report his discovery to the police or security offices either directly or anonymously. The court is of the opinion that the applicant made deliberate measures to avoid detention.”
The magistrate said Mahungela didn’t flee the province because he believed he had destroyed the evidence against him.
Prinsloo said it was not in the interest of justice to release him on bail as he failed to prove that he did not commit the crime.
Mahungela’s lawyer, Itumeleng Masako, indicated they would urgently appeal the judgment.
The case was postponed to 19 January 2024.
