Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the 28-year-old son of the late Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, has been formally charged with attempted murder following a shooting incident in an upscale Johannesburg neighbourhood. The charges stem from an alleged attack on February 19, where a 23-year-old man was reportedly shot in the back.
Court Appearance and Additional Charges
Mugabe appeared in a South African court on Monday for a brief hearing alongside his co-accused, 33-year-old Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze. The pair face a series of serious allegations beyond attempted murder, including obstructing justice, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, theft, and contraventions of the Immigration Act on suspicion of being in South Africa illegally.
National prosecuting authority spokesperson Magaboke Mohlatlole detailed the theft charge, explaining that after the alleged victim was shot and attempted to flee, falling outside a gate, one of the accused allegedly took the gate remote from him. The state prosecutor noted during the hearing that the firearm allegedly used in the shooting has not yet been recovered, and investigations remain ongoing.
Legal Proceedings and Background
Mugabe's lawyer, Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, declined to comment to reporters on whether the two accused men are related. Mnguni stated he would request bail for his clients at the next scheduled hearing on March 3. The alleged victim remains hospitalised under police guard, according to police spokesperson Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, who spoke to national broadcaster SABC prior to the court appearance.
Police indicated they believe the victim was an employee at a house in Hyde Park, an affluent suburb where South African president Cyril Ramaphosa also maintains a residence. This detail adds a layer of political sensitivity to the case, connecting it to high-profile locations and figures.
Notorious Lifestyle and Family History
Bellarmine Mugabe and his older brother Robert Junior gained notoriety during the 2010s for publicly flaunting their extravagant lifestyles on social media. In one particularly infamous 2017 Instagram post, the younger Mugabe boasted about a $60,000 watch with a caption referencing his father's political power, followed by a video showing him dousing the timepiece with champagne.
Their father, Robert Mugabe, ruled Zimbabwe for nearly four decades until being deposed in a 2017 coup. He died two years later at age 95. While initially celebrated for ending white minority rule, his tenure became synonymous with tyranny, corruption, hyperinflation, and economic collapse.
Family Controversies Continue
The Mugabe family's legal troubles extend beyond Bellarmine's current case. Their mother, Grace Mugabe—40 years younger than her husband—earned the nickname "Gucci Grace" for her expensive tastes, including reported property purchases across multiple continents and a rumoured £75,000 Paris shopping spree. In 2017, she avoided prosecution in South Africa after invoking diplomatic immunity when model Gabriella Engels accused her of assault with an electric cable.
Robert Junior faced his own legal issues in 2023, arrested for allegedly causing £10,000 worth of damage to vehicles and property at a Harare party. The previous year, he was fined for cannabis possession after being arrested while driving the wrong way on a one-way street.
The current case against Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe continues to develop, with prosecutors emphasising that their investigation is far from complete. The next court date on March 3 will likely provide further clarity on the bail application and the progression of these serious charges.
