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Stellenbosch Student’s Killer Sentenced to Life Plus 30 Years

A plea deal followed CCTV evidence with DNA linking 20-year-old Rudolph Hufke to Jesse Mitchell’s killing.

Overview

  • The Stellenbosch Regional Court convicted Hufke after a plea-and-sentencing agreement for murder and two robberies with aggravating circumstances.
  • The court imposed life for murder and two 15-year direct-imprisonment terms for the robberies, ordered to run concurrently.
  • CCTV timelines show the 15 October 2024 robbery of Sikho Matimba and the early 16 October 2024 stabbing of Mitchell as he rode an electric bicycle.
  • Investigators led by Detective Sergeant Calvin Mosses tied Hufke to the knife through fingerprints and DNA recovered by police.
  • Prosecutors described predatory violence and said the outcome should deter similar crimes, while Mitchell’s grandmother expressed hope the sentence reassures students’ families.