South African Court Orders Deportation of Robert Mugabe’s Son Over Attempted Murder Case

A court in South Africa has ordered the deportation of Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, son of former Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe, over an attempted murder case involving a gardener in Johannesburg. He was fined and will be deported after being found to have been in the country illegally.

A court in South Africa has ordered the deportation of Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the youngest son of Zimbabwe’s late former president Robert Mugabe, following his implication in a violent case involving the shooting of a gardener after a confrontation at a private residence.
Chatunga Mugabe, aged 28, has been in custody since mid-February together with his cousin and co-accused, Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze. The two men were facing attempted murder charges arising from an incident that occurred at the Mugabe family home in the upscale Hyde Park area of Johannesburg. The case drew significant public attention due to the high-profile family involved and the seriousness of the allegations.
Court proceedings revealed that tensions escalated during an altercation that led to a shooting incident involving a gardener employed at the residence. Although details of the confrontation were not fully disclosed, prosecutors argued that the situation constituted attempted murder, prompting a lengthy legal process and negotiations around plea agreements.
During the hearings, Chatunga Mugabe admitted that he was unlawfully residing in South Africa, a separate immigration violation that further complicated his legal position. He also admitted to an unrelated incident in which he pointed what was later described as a toy gun, adding to concerns about his conduct while in the country. His co-accused, Matonhodze, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and additional charges connected to the case.
The Alexandra Magistrates’ Court ultimately imposed a fine of 600,000 rand (approximately $36,000) on Mugabe, with an alternative sentence of 24 months’ imprisonment if he failed to pay. The court also ordered his immediate deportation, directing law enforcement officials to escort him to OR Tambo International Airport for removal from the country.
In delivering the ruling, Magistrate Reiner Boshoff stated that Mugabe should consider himself fortunate that the victim was not seriously injured or killed, emphasizing the seriousness of the conduct. The magistrate also raised questions about the extent of responsibility between the two accused, suggesting uncertainty over whether one may have taken more blame for the other in the case.
Matonhodze received concurrent prison sentences of up to three years. The court described the sentence as relatively lenient, noting mitigating circumstances, including that the complainant had received financial compensation. Following the completion of his sentence, he is also expected to be deported.
Evidence presented in court indicated that the gardener involved in the incident had been paid 250,000 rand in cash, with an additional 150,000 rand reportedly promised. However, the firearm allegedly used during the shooting has not been recovered since the arrests were made in February, leaving some aspects of the investigation unresolved.
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe is one of two sons born to Robert Mugabe and his second wife, Grace Mugabe. Over the years, he and his brother have spent considerable time in Johannesburg, where they have often attracted public attention for their affluent lifestyle and social activities. Reports have frequently linked them to a reputation for partying and high-profile living within elite circles.
Their father, Robert Mugabe, ruled Zimbabwe for nearly four decades before being removed from power in a military intervention in 2017. He passed away in 2019 at the age of 95, marking the end of a long and controversial political era in Zimbabwe’s history.