Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, son of the late Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, will stay in custody for another week after his bail hearing was postponed. He faces charges related to the shooting of an employee at his Johannesburg home. The court appearance occurred at the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court amid ongoing investigations.
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, 28, appeared in the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court on 23 February 2026 alongside co-accused Tobias Tamirepi Matonhodze, 33. The pair faces charges of attempted murder under the doctrine of common purpose, defeating the ends of justice, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, theft, and contravention of the Immigration Act. These stem from an incident on 19 February 2026 at Mugabe’s residence in Hyde Park, Johannesburg.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Magaboke Mohlatlole, an altercation occurred inside the home between the victim and the accused. The victim attempted to flee but was shot in the back and collapsed outside the gate. One accused allegedly took the remote control from the victim, returned to the property, and closed the gate. A security guard from a neighboring house noticed the victim and alerted police, leading to the arrests.
The firearm used in the shooting has not been recovered despite searches involving a forensics team, K-9 unit, and diving team at the residence. State prosecutor Lufuno Maphiri stated that the State highly suspected the two concealed the weapon and requested a seven-day postponement to complete investigations, including verifying the suspects’ legal status. The bail application is set for 3 March 2026, with both remaining in custody.
Mugabe and Matonhodze were arrested at Bramley Police Station after a two-hour negotiation following the initial police response to shots fired. The victim’s identity has not been publicly disclosed, and it remains unclear who fired the shot. Mugabe’s lawyers declined to comment.
Clayson Manyela, head of public diplomacy for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, clarified on X that Mugabe does not qualify for diplomatic immunity, as it applies to official capacities and not family members of former heads of state. This comes amid past incidents involving the Mugabe family in South Africa, including a 2017 brawl and an assault case involving Grace Mugabe.
