Johannesburg, 18 May 2026, In a dramatic scene at Johannesburg High Court, the father of murder-accused Bafana Mahungela dismissed his Legal Aid lawyer and made serious allegations of evidence tampering, investigative failures, and unfair treatment in the high-profile case.
Bafana Mahungela Senior stated that his son, who will now represent himself, is innocent and has been wrongly implicated.
“My Son Never Wore Those Clothes”
The father insisted his son was never seen on authentic video footage committing the alleged acts and never wore the deceased’s clothes.
He highlighted a key contradiction in the video evidence: an affidavit from a security manager reportedly stated the accused was carrying items in his left hand, but the photo used for the arrest shows the right hand. This, he argued, suggests possible doctoring.
He also pointed to inconsistent timestamps across video clips (some allegedly sent abroad for processing) and claimed none clearly show the accused dragging the victim, throwing items, or jumping a fence as alleged by the state.
Allegations of Contamination and Flawed Investigation
Other serious claims raised include:
A private investigator allegedly collected key items (a cap and a cigarette butt) from the scene alone, without forensic teams or proper protective equipment.
Conflicting collection dates and descriptions of items (e.g., khaki vs beige cap).
Multiple people are claiming to be the first to access the victim’s phone and vehicle, raising chain-of-custody concerns.
DNA found at the scene reportedly belonged to a “foreign woman,” not his son. He called for the testing of other individuals seen near the victim, including a man and woman who were ahead of her in the park (one of whom allegedly left the country soon after).
He further alleged his son was assaulted, threatened with a firearm, and pressured into admissions while in custody.
Self-Representation After Dismissing a Lawyer
The accused dismissed his advocate, citing pressure from the prosecutor and judge that allegedly hindered proper preparation. The father said his son received a large docket with little time to prepare and accused the court of ignoring major inconsistencies. He invoked Section 35 constitutional rights.
Background on the Case
The matter concerns the 2023 murder of a young teacher who was 14 weeks pregnant. She was killed in a park in Sandton while participating in a running event. The accused faces serious charges, including murder, and has pleaded not guilty. Video footage forms a significant part of the state’s case.
The trial continues with the accused now self-representing, a difficult step in a complex Court matter.
Important: These are allegations made by the accused’s father in court. They have not been independently verified. The state has not yet responded publicly to the latest claims. The accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.