Mugabe’s Son Pleads Guilty to Pointing Gun in South Africa Shooting Case

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe has pleaded guilty to immigration and firearm-related offences in South Africa but denied shooting his gardener. His cousin, Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze, admitted to attempted murder and other charges. The case, linked to an incident in Johannesburg, has been adjourned to April 24.

The youngest son of Zimbabwe’s long-time former leader, Robert Mugabe, appeared in a South African court on Friday, where he entered a mixed plea in connection with a violent incident that has drawn significant public attention.
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, 29, pleaded guilty to being in South Africa without valid documentation and to pointing a firearm during a separate confrontation. However, he firmly denied the more serious accusation that he shot and critically injured his gardener during an altercation at a residence in the affluent Hyde Park suburb of Johannesburg.
The case stems from an incident that allegedly escalated into violence, resulting in the gardener sustaining severe injuries. Following the incident, Bellarmine Mugabe was taken into police custody along with his cousin and co-accused, Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze. Both men were initially charged with attempted murder when they were arrested on February 19, prompting a high-profile legal process.
During Friday’s court proceedings, a divergence in their legal strategies became clear. While Bellarmine Mugabe admitted to lesser offences related to immigration violations and firearm use, Matonhodze, 32, pleaded guilty to attempted murder. In addition to that charge, he also acknowledged breaching immigration laws and unlawfully possessing a firearm, effectively taking responsibility for the shooting incident that left the victim seriously wounded.
Bellarmine Mugabe’s legal representative, Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, told the court that there had been prior discussions with the prosecution aimed at reaching a plea and sentencing agreement that would have resolved the matter without a prolonged trial. However, those negotiations ultimately collapsed at the final stage, resulting in the case proceeding in its current form. Mnguni also addressed speculation surrounding the case, strongly dismissing claims that Matonhodze was accepting blame in order to protect Mugabe. He described such allegations as baseless and lacking credibility.
Despite the seriousness of the charges, investigators have not yet recovered the firearm believed to have been used in the shooting. The absence of the weapon remains a key element in the ongoing investigation and could play a role in how the case develops in court.
The proceedings have been adjourned, with the court scheduling the next hearing for April 24. Further developments are expected as the legal process continues and more details emerge.
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe is one of two sons born to Robert Mugabe and his second wife, Grace Mugabe. He and his brother have at various times resided in Johannesburg, where they have attracted attention for their affluent lifestyle and public conduct.
Robert Mugabe himself was a dominant figure in Zimbabwean politics for nearly four decades, ruling the country for 37 years before being forced from power in a military intervention in 2017. He died in 2019, leaving behind a complex and often controversial legacy that continues to shape perceptions of his family and their activities.