Johannesburg, South Africa — 2026-02-23 Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, son of the late Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, has been charged with attempted murder following a shooting incident in Johannesburg on February 19.
The 28-year-old, known for his lavish lifestyle, also faces charges of theft and being an illegal immigrant.
According to local reports, Mugabe appeared in court on Monday alongside co — accused Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze.
Mugabe’s lawyer, Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, requested bail for his clients at the next hearing scheduled for March 3. Mugabe and his older brother, Robert Junior, gained notoriety in the 2010s for their opulent lifestyles, often documented on social media.
” The younger Mugabe’s extravagant lifestyle has drawn significant media attention.
A state prosecutor stated that the gun used in the shooting has not yet been found, and investigations are ongoing. Mugabe and Matonhodze, 33, have also been charged with obstructing justice, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, contraventions of the Immigration Act, and theft. Regarding the theft charge, a national prosecuting authority spokesperson explained that after the alleged victim was shot, he tried to flee and fell.
One of the accused is accused of taking the gate remote from him.
The victim remains in hospital under police watch. When the men were arrested, police believed the victim was an employee at the house in Hyde Park, a suburb where South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, also resides.
Robert Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe for nearly 40 years before being deposed in 2017, died two years later at the age of 95.
Bellarmine Mugabe’s father, Robert Mugabe, was a hero to many for ending white minority rule in Zimbabwe but later faced criticism for his authoritarian rule, economic mismanagement, and corruption. His widow, Grace Mugabe, was known for her extravagant spending and was involved in several legal disputes.
Further details are expected as the case progresses.
Mugabe and Matonhodze are due back in court on March 3.
