Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the youngest son of Zimbabwe’s late former president Robert Mugabe, appeared in a South African court on Monday facing attempted murder charges.
The incident stems from the shooting of a 23-year-old gardener (or employee) at his Johannesburg residence in the upscale Hyde Park suburb last Thursday, February 19.
The 28- or 29-year-old Mugabe, along with his co-accused Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze (33), also faces charges of defeating the ends of justice and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Police have not recovered the suspected weapon, and the motive remains unclear. The victim was hospitalized following the altercation and is reported to be in critical condition in some accounts.
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The pair made a brief appearance at Alexandra Magistrates’ Court, where no plea was entered. The case has been postponed to March 3, 2026, for a formal bail application, with both men remaining in custody in the meantime.
Bellarmine is the son of Robert Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe for nearly four decades until his removal in 2017, and his wife Grace. His older brother, Robert Mugabe Jr., previously faced drug possession charges in Harare last October.
The brothers are known in Johannesburg for hosting extravagant parties and reportedly engaging in disruptive behavior. On Monday, the family released a statement clarifying that no authorized spokesperson represents them.