The Johannesburg High Court found Bafana Mahungela, 23, guilty on all charges in connection with the 2023 murder of pregnant Delta Park High School teacher Kirsten Kluyts on Friday 11 September 2026. Sentencing arguments are set for 27 October 2026. Image: Simphiwe Nkosi
The Johannesburg High Court found Bafana Mahungela, 23, guilty on all charges in the 2023 murder of Delta Park High School teacher Kirsten Kluyts on Friday 11 September 2026. The Bafana Mahungela Kirsten Kluyts guilty verdict came from Judge Ian Cox who rejected Mahungela’s blanket denial of every charge. Furthermore, Mahungela faces convictions on murder, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted rape and defeating the ends of justice. As a result, the man CCTV captured leaving a Sandton park run wearing a dead teacher’s blue shirt will face sentencing on 27 October 2026.
Kluyts was 34 years old and 14 weeks pregnant with a baby boy when she died. She took part in a MyRun event at George Lea Park in Parkmore, Sandton on 29 October 2023. CCTV footage showed her starting her third lap shortly before 08h00 wearing a blue T-shirt, black ski pants, running shoes, sunglasses and a cap. Within minutes her cellphone turned up on the ground near the track. Shortly after that her naked body turned up in a ditch next to the track. Furthermore, a post-mortem examination found she died from blunt-force head trauma and strangulation. As a result, the state told the court the fatal assault lasted approximately eight minutes.
How CCTV Evidence Sealed the Bafana Mahungela Kirsten Kluyts Guilty Verdict
The state’s case hinged on CCTV footage tracing Mahungela’s movements through the park. The footage showed him entering George Lea Park 90 seconds after Kluyts began her second lap. He wore a black shirt, dark pants and a bucket hat and carried only his cellphone. Later footage showed him wearing a blue T-shirt identical to Kluyts’ and carrying a black item. Furthermore, private detectives hired by the Kluyts family worked alongside investigating officer Constable Aubrey Tshisani to piece together his movements. As a result, Judge Cox found the CCTV evidence authentic and compelling and said the prosecution proved Mahungela’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Mahungela admitted removing Kluyts’ clothing and wearing her blue T-shirt. He claimed he came across her body and feared his DNA would link him to the scene. He disposed of her clothing down a drain. Officers recovered it there. Furthermore, CCTV showed Mahungela concealing items taken from Kluyts at the drain. On the kidnapping charge, Judge Cox said the only obvious conclusion was that Kluyts faced the same person who committed every other offence against her. As a result, Mahungela’s admissions and the CCTV evidence left the court with no doubt about his guilt.
Mahungela represented himself and pleaded not guilty to every charge. He disputed the CCTV footage and criticised the investigation throughout. As Judge Cox delivered the verdict, Mahungela sat quietly in the dock looking down. He took notes with little visible reaction. After the verdict he suggested the court had misled him. Furthermore, the court rejected his position on every count. As a result, he now awaits sentencing on 27 October 2026.
Kirsten Kluyts was a beloved teacher at Delta Park High School. Her murder shocked South Africa and sparked a national conversation about the safety of women in public spaces. The case drew widespread attention when CCTV footage emerged of Mahungela walking away from the park wearing her blue shirt. Her family hired private investigators to help piece together what happened. Furthermore, the Kluyts family attended every court sitting throughout the three-year process. As a result, the sentencing hearing on 27 October 2026 will be the final chapter in a case that devastated a family and shook a nation.
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