Bellarmine Mugabe, 28, the youngest son of Zimbabwe’s late former President Robert Mugabe, has been formally charged with attempted murder following a court appearance in South Africa.
Shooting Incident in Upmarket Johannesburg Suburb
Bellarmine was arrested last week after a 23-year-old man was shot and injured at a property in Hyde Park, an affluent suburb of Johannesburg. His bodyguard was also taken into custody. Neither has publicly commented on the allegations.
Court Appearance
Dressed in black, Mugabe appeared calm during the brief court proceedings. He and co-accused Tobias Tamirepi Matonhodze, 33, face additional charges, including defeating the ends of justice, linked to a missing firearm from the property.
Details of the Alleged Attack
Prosecutors claim an altercation took place between the victim and the accused inside Mugabe’s home. The victim was reportedly shot in the back while attempting to flee and collapsed outside the gate, which was then closed.
Investigation Update
Police searching the Hyde Park property have recovered bullet cartridges but have yet to find a firearm. The victim remains in critical condition in hospital.
Legal Proceedings
Mugabe’s lawyer, Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, said his client is “fine” while in custody. The case has been postponed to 3 March, when a bail application will be heard.
Background
Bellarmine is the youngest son of Robert and Grace Mugabe. Robert Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years before being forced out of power at age 93 in 2017 and passed away in 2019.
