The youngest son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe has appeared in a South African court in connection with a shooting that left a gardener critically injured. Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, 29, was before the Randburg Magistrates’ Court following his arrest last month on attempted murder charges.
The incident occurred at a property in an affluent northern Johannesburg suburb. Police confirmed that two men were arrested at the scene. While Mugabe has abandoned his bail application, his legal representative, Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, stated that discussions with the prosecution are at a preliminary stage. “It’s still premature to say… whether we are going to plead guilty to anything at this stage,” Mnguni told the court, adding that potential negotiations with the state were possible. The case is now scheduled to resume on 17 March.
According to authorities, the motive for the shooting remains undetermined as investigations continue. The victim, a gardener, is reported to be in a critical condition. The arrest has drawn significant attention due to the family name. Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe is the youngest son of Robert Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe for nearly four decades before being ousted in a 2017 military coup. He and his brother, Robert Jr., are known to occasionally reside in Johannesburg, where they have a public profile associated with a lavish lifestyle.
The Mugabe family’s history in South Africa is not without controversy. Years ago, their mother, Grace Mugabe, faced an assault accusation involving an employee at the family’s Zimbabwean home. This new legal proceeding places the Mugabe family’s post-power life under further scrutiny in South Africa’s judicial system. The outcome of the case, set for further proceedings in March, will hinge on the ongoing police investigation and any subsequent discussions between the defence and the National Prosecuting Authority.
