Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the 28-year-old son of the late Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, remains in custody after a brief appearance at the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court on Monday, facing charges of attempted murder, obstruction of justice, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, theft, and contraventions of the Immigration Act. His bail hearing, alongside that of co-accused Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze, 33, has been postponed to 3 March 2026, according to the National Prosecuting Authority.
The Hyde Park Shooting
The charges stem from an incident on 19 February 2026 at Mugabe’s residence in the plush Hyde Park suburb of Johannesburg, an area where South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, also has a home. A 23-year-old man, employed as a gardener at the property, was allegedly shot in the back. The victim remains in a critical condition in hospital and is under police guard, a police spokesperson, Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, told the national broadcaster SABC.
Regarding the theft charge, the NPA spokesperson Magaboke Mohlatlole said that after being shot, the victim tried to flee, fell outside the gate, and one of the accused then took the gate remote from him. The state prosecutor told the court that the firearm allegedly used in the shooting has not yet been found, adding that investigations were “far from over”.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Scrutiny
Mugabe and Matonhodze also face charges of defeating the ends of justice, related to the alleged concealment of the weapon. The prosecution suspects they hid the firearm and has stated it needs more time to complete its inquiries, including assessing the suspects’ legal status in South Africa. Both men were taken to Home Affairs for profiling as part of this process. Their defence indicated they were only recently made aware of some additional charges, including the Immigration Act contraventions.
Mugabe’s lawyer, Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, declined to comment when asked by reporters whether the two accused were related, and said he would request bail at the next hearing. During a police search at the Hyde Park property, a BMW fitted with flashing lights and a siren was seized as part of the investigation.
A Family’s History of Notoriety
Bellarmine Mugabe and his older brother Robert Junior gained notoriety in the 2010s for flaunting their lavish lifestyles on social media. Bellarmine has previously drawn controversy for displaying large amounts of cash and luxury vehicles online. In 2017, he posted a photograph of a $60,000 watch on Instagram with the caption: “$60,000 on the wrist when your daddy run the whole country ya know!!!”, followed by a video of him dousing it with champagne.
Their mother, Grace Mugabe, the widow of Robert Mugabe, is infamous for her expensive taste, earning the nickname “Gucci Grace” after reported property purchases in Johannesburg, Singapore, Dubai and Malaysia, and a rumoured £75,000 shopping spree in Paris. In Johannesburg, she reportedly owns a R45 million mansion in Sandhurst. In 2017, she avoided a court case in South Africa after invoking diplomatic immunity when model Gabriella Engels accused her of assault, alleging Grace Mugabe hit her with an extension cord until she bled. Grace Mugabe denied the allegations, and the diplomatic immunity decision was later overturned by the South African High Court.
Robert Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for almost 40 years until being deposed in a 2017 coup, dying two years later aged 95. He came to power as a hero for ending white minority rule, but his reign descended into tyranny and corruption, presiding over hyperinflation and economic collapse.
The legal troubles extend to Bellarmine’s brother, Robert Junior. In 2023, he was arrested in Harare for allegedly causing £10,000 of damage to cars and other property at a party. The previous year, he was fined for possessing cannabis after being arrested while driving the wrong way down a one-way street.
Community Reaction and Justice
The Zimbabwean community in South Africa has expressed alarm over the latest allegations against Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, hoping the justice system will proceed without interference. With the accused remaining in custody and the case set to continue, the spotlight remains firmly on a family long accustomed to controversy.
