Mugabe’s Son to Spend Another Week in Jail Over Shooting Incident

• Mugabe’s Son Appears Before SA Court On Gardener’s Murder Charges
• Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe Appears In Court On Gardener Murder Charges In SA

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the 28-year-old son of Zimbabwe’s late former President Robert Mugabe, appeared in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing serious charges including attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

The case stems from a shocking shooting at his upscale Hyde Park residence in Johannesburg last Thursday, where a 23-year-old gardener was allegedly shot in the back and left critically injured.

NaijaChoice News reports that Mugabe was arrested alongside his co-accused, 33-year-old Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze, who is described in some accounts as a relative or bodyguard. The pair did not enter a plea during the brief hearing, and the matter has been postponed to March 3 for formal bail applications. Until then, both men will remain behind bars as investigations continue.

According to court details and police statements shared on social media platforms like X, authorities are still searching for the firearm believed to have been used in the incident, but efforts have so far yielded no results. The victim, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, was rushed to hospital in critical condition following the altercation at the Mugabe family property.

Mugabe’s legal representative, Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, declined to comment on any potential family ties between the two accused when questioned by reporters outside the court. This silence has fueled speculation on social media, with users questioning the relationship and even calling for DNA tests in the Mugabe family.

The incident has drawn widespread attention across Africa, reminding many of the controversial legacy of Robert Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe for nearly four decades before his ouster in 2017. Bellarmine, often in the spotlight for his lavish lifestyle, now faces a potential lengthy legal battle in South Africa.

NaijaChoice News will continue to monitor this developing story and provide updates as more details emerge from the ongoing investigations.