Bellarmine Mugabe Faces Additional Charge After Hyde Park Shooting

Bellarmine Mugabe, son of Robert Mugabe, and his co-accused face attempted murder and defeating the ends of justice charges after a gardener was shot at his Hyde Park home. The victim is in critical condition, and the firearm has not been recovered.

The South African Police Service has confirmed that an additional charge of “defeating the ends of justice” will be brought against Bellarmine Mugabe and his co-accused, as the firearm allegedly used in last week’s shooting incident has still not been recovered.
Bellarmine Mugabe, 28, who is the son of former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, was arrested along with a 33-year-old man after a 23-year-old gardener was shot at Mugabe’s residence in Hyde Park, north of Johannesburg.
The victim is currently in critical condition in hospital after suffering gunshot wounds. According to witnesses, he was shot in the back during the incident.
A witness who was in the vicinity of the property at the time told South African Broadcasting Corporation that he heard two gunshots, followed shortly by the sound of someone crying out in distress. Neighbours and individuals passing by reportedly saw the 23-year-old running away from the property before he eventually collapsed on the roadside.
Additional charge
The two suspects have been detained at the Bramley police station since their arrest and are expected to make an appearance before the Alexandra Magistrate's Court.
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi told the South African Broadcasting Corporation that the suspects are expected to face charges of attempted murder as well as defeating the ends of justice, explaining that the latter charge is being added because the firearm allegedly used in the shooting has not yet been located. She further stated that the motive behind the shooting remains unknown at this stage and that investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are continuing.
Police divers were deployed on Friday, January 20, to search a swimming pool at the Hyde Park property in an effort to recover the missing firearm. However, despite the search operation, the weapon has still not been found.
Local media reports indicated that Mugabe was seen in handcuffs in the driveway of the residence after police officers arrived at the scene.
In the meantime, the Mugabe family has refuted reports claiming that it had released public statements through third parties. In an official statement, the family clarified that it had “not appointed, authorised, or mandated any public relations team, media consultant, or spokesperson to speak on its behalf.”
The statement further emphasised that any statements, commentary, or representations made by any third party claiming to act for or represent the family are false and should be disregarded entirely. The family directed all media enquiries to its legal representatives.