Kirsten Kluyts was found dumped at the side of a jogging path inside George Lea Park on 29 October 2023. Picture: Supplied
A student, 21, is expected to make his first court appearance for allegedly raping and killing a Johannesburg teacher, Kirsten Kluyts.
Gauteng police spokesperson, Brigadier Brenda Muridili, said the suspect was arrested at a student residence on Sunday.
It is almost a month since Kluyts, 34, was found dumped at the side of a jogging path inside George Lea Park on October 29. A passer-by discovered the body and alerted authorities.
Kluyts’s brutal murder left joggers in fear as a number of northern suburbs residents frequent and utilise the path for health purposes.
He will appear at the Wynberg Regional Court tomorrow (Tuesday), facing a charge of murder.
“The provincial commissioner of police in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, has commended Sandton’s team of detectives who managed to crack the murder case of Kluyts by arresting her alleged murderer on Sunday November 26, in the Parkmore suburb,” said Muridili.
“This follows a thorough investigation by detectives and the co-operation by 24/7 Security management.”
Muridili said the alleged killer is a student at a Sandton tertiary institution.
“The suspect will be charged with murder and he will appear before court soon,” said Muridili.
Criminal Law expert, Ian Allis, speaking in an interview with one of the broadcasters, said this was not a robbery but a direct attack on the victim.
Allis said this was somebody deliberately aiming … whether it was directly for this person or any other person, this was a premeditated attack and murder.
He believes that with the case, more crimes of this nature may be uncovered.
“This crime has proven one thing, I think it’s gone beyond just the activism and just gender-based violence (GBV) aspect. Now that they have arrested this person, I suspect that they might be other similar offences that have taken place, but not with the same result,” said Allis.
South Africa is currently observing the annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. The campaign is observed every year from November 25 and December 10.
The Star
ntombi.nkosi@inl.co.za
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